New Legislation For Paved Driveways & Gardens

The government are planning to introduce new legislation for paved driveways in October 2008. This comes as a result of increased pressure on local authority drainage systems and the increasing risk of flooding. New legislation will apply to England and will incentivise permeable paving for driveways.

Why the new concerns?

Increasingly home owners are converting parts of their front gardens to hard surfaces such as paving slabs or tarmac driveways to allow for off road parking and low maintenance. Hard surfaces can increase surface water run off by up to 50% resulting in an increased volume of water draining in the local authority drainage systems. Sometimes drains can’t cope with the increased demands in times of heavy rainfall so leading to localised flooding. In 2007 flooding was a top news feature and resulted in extensive flood damage.

The Foresight Future Flooding report estimated that currently 80,000 properties are at significant risk from surface water run flooding, causing on average £270 million of damage each year (Source: Foresight 2004 Government Report).

Understanding the new legislation for new paved driveways

Put simply if the planned legislation goes through, in October 2008 you will have to apply for planning permission before constructing a new paved, tarmac, concrete or other hard surface area in your front garden.

The objectives of new legislation

• Encourage the use of permeable surfaces
• Reduce surface water run off and strains on drainage systems  
• Reduce the impact that hard surfaces have on ecosystems

“Two thirds of homes damaged by the floods were as a result of surface water run off!” (Source BBC April 08 commenting on last years floods)

Permitted Surfaces

The new legislation allows certain surfaces to be laid without planning permission. Options include permeable paving and other porous solutions such as gravel.

Permeable Paving for Driveways

Aquaflow permeable paving blocks and slabs are the ideal solution if you want to avoid applying for planning permission. Each of the blocks/slabs have small slots to allow surface water to drain through. Burdens supply Aquaflow blocks and slabs nationwide. View more information and enquire online via our Aquaflow permeable paving pages.

Grass & Gravel Driveways

Beat the planners with a gravel or grass driveway. A well contained gravel driveway is a cost effective way of providing off road parking. Burdens are stockists of Agrablock, a unique interlocking system that contains gravel, helping to provide a stable car parking surface. Agrablock’s patented sub base construction provides a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS) ideally suited to car parking bays. If gravel is not for you, the system is also suitable for a grass infill although this is best suited for occasional use car parking, perfect for visiting guests or commercial applications where overflow car parking is required at peak times. View more information and enquire online via our Agrablock pages. 

Environmental Implications

For many years the Royal Horticultural Society have been campaigning for action to be taken to improve awareness and discourage home owners and developers from opting for hard surfaces.
Porous car parking areas mimic natural drainage systems so helping to sustain the natural environment.

“Greater permeability through permeable surfacing should increase soil moisture levels, benefiting street trees and carbon absorption levels” (Source: Impact Assessment – Permeable Surface – Department for Communities & Local Government 2008)
 
Agrablock offers environmental benefits over many hard surfaces. A grass infill provides a haven for wildlife and a gravel driveway also provides significant benefits as many varieties of insects are able to take refuge deep within the voids in the gravel or sub base below.

What if I still want to install a non-porous surface?

A planning application will be required which will incur costs of £150.00 from April 2008 and typically a wait of 8 weeks for approval.

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