The Government has outlined the following
"Planning permission is now required to lay traditional impermeable driveways that allow uncontrolled runoff of rainwater from front gardens onto roads, because this can contribute to flooding and pollution of watercourses."
Source: Guidance on permeable surfacing of a front garden Communities and Local Government and Environment Agency
- If the area of hard surface is constructed using a permeable product such as from Marshalls Priora range or Marshalls Grassguard. There is no limit to size in this case.
- Standard impermeable paving can be used if provision is made for rainwater from traditional impermeable hard landscaping to drain into a soft landscape such as grass or border planting with sufficient permeability, or into a specially constructed soakaway.
- If the area of hard surface intended is less than 5 square metres.
- The new legislation only affects front garden areas.
- Elsewhere around the house there are no restrictions on hard surfaces at or near ground level.