Planning Permission
From 1 October 2008 the permitted development rights that allow householders to pave their front garden with hardstanding without planning permission have changed in order to reduce the impact of this type of development on flooding and on pollution of watercourses.
You will not need planning permission if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses permeable (or porous) surfacing, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally.
If the surface to be covered is more than five square metres planning permission will be needed for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not provide for the water to run to a permeable area.
This leaflet explains the different approaches to constructing a driveway or other paved area that controls and reduces rainfall runoff into drains by using permeable surfaces or soakaways and rain gardens. The advice can also be applied to other paved areas around the house, such as patios.
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