Your Driveway and the Planning System
September 5, 2009
There is more to it than simply Blocks and Mortar.
In these times of economic budget tightening, it is often those "I can do jobs" that become a reality. Yes, with the correct materials and a level of competence, any person can lay a new concrete driveway or indeed asphalt it.
However, as of 1 October 2008, homeowners must use permeable paving if replacing existing, or installing new drives or pathways in their front gardens. If you don't use a permeable system or water cannot soak into the ground via another route, all hard surfaces with an area over 5 sq metres will require planning permission.
Please remember that ignorance is not a defence and it is the homeowner's responsibility to ensure that this is the case under the new planning rules. Whilst you may not recognise this, a failing to receive planning permission may come back to haunt you if in years to come you wish to sell your property (see the Frequently Asked Questions section).
If you feel you are not confident in undertaking such a project, as the old adage goes "cheap may not always be the best". Therefore, if you are tempted by an offer in the local paper or other means, "which is too good to be true", why not take a moment to check the credentials of that company?
For further information on this, you can contact Interlay - the Independent Trade Association for Block-Paving Contractors who can help you find an approved contractor at www.interlay.org.uk.
Let us know your experiences both good and bad when it comes to driveways.
To find a company who may assist you further, simply click on the free links located on the right hand side of the page.
Comment on This Article:
All HTML, except <i>, <b>, <u> will require your comment to be moderated before it is publicly displayed.
If you would like your own avatar displayed, read about comment avatars.
Reader Comments
Skip to form
9/7/2009 7:55:52 AM
,Jason says:Whilst its certainly true that using block paving is a good way around the new planning laws, an equally good, if not better, way is to use really robust recycled plastic grids that are back-filled with either gravel or grass to do the job. There are a number on the market, ranging from the well known European "Ecogrid" to the all-British "Hebden 40". Generically known as "cellular paving", these products work out significantlly cheaper than block paving and are more environmentally friendly.