The front garden rule
Hard front gardens that shed water straight into the street can add to surface water flooding. Planning requirements depend on whether the surface is permeable and where the water will drain, so check the Planning Portal and your council before work starts.
The rule applies to houses. Flats, maisonettes, listed buildings and homes in conservation areas or with special restrictions can be different, so they are worth checking with the council before work starts.
Permeable driveway rules
A permeable surface lets water soak through into the ground below. Loose gravel on a suitable base is the obvious example. An impermeable surface, like slabs on a solid bed, can still avoid needing permission if the water is directed to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property rather than onto the road.
That is why a gravel drive is often the simplest choice for a front garden, and why a slabbed drive may need a drainage channel and a route for the water.
Front garden paving: what to check
- Is the house a flat, listed, or in a conservation area?
- How much of the front garden will be hard surfaced?
- Is the surface permeable, or where will the water run?
- Do you need a new dropped kerb to reach the road?
- Are there any restrictions in the property deeds?
Driveways
- Full groundwork preparation
- Drainage considered from the start
- Clear, tidy finishing
Dropped kerb application
Driving across a pavement to reach a new drive needs a dropped kerb, and that needs consent from the highway authority, which is the council responsible for the roads in your area. Driving over a full height kerb without one is not permitted. The application, approval and the kerb works themselves are handled through the council and its approved contractors, so it is worth starting this early if you need one.
Where we fit in
We build gravel, stone and slab drives with the digout, base and drainage designed for the surface. We can talk through how the water will drain on your drive, but the planning and dropped kerb decisions sit with your council, so we recommend confirming them before work is booked.