Driveway expansion.

paradigm

paradigm

paradigm

Caporegime
Joined
26 Aug 2003
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37,514
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Leafy Cheshire
So, trying to get my head around the rather convoluted "do you or don't you" rules for planning permissions regarding driveways.

The house we are due to complete on for the 6th of June has a single width tarmac driveway, you can just about get two cars on, but clearly you'd need to move the rear vehicle out of the way to get the front one out. Also, with two cars on the driveway you'd not be able to open the garage (door swings out and up, I'll replace with a roller at some point).

To rectify this (and because I'll likely end up with three cars at some point in the near future), I want to double the width of the driveway (there is a lot of front lawn at the moment). This has the added bonus of me having less grass to cut!

So, do I, or don't I need planning permission if I slope the drive slightly towards the lawn area (soakaway)? What about semi-permeable surfaces as opposed to tarmac?

This is how it looks now, red is the edge of my title.

driveway.png
 
You will not need planning permission if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses permeable (or porous) surfacing which allows water to drain through, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally.

Although that is a rather large area to convert, you'd get 4 cars on there. I'd probably look at taking it from the lamppost towards the fence near the house.
 
I think it is based on square meters if it is impermeable like tarmac. However if you went for a permeable solution it should be okay. Though paving is neater IMO - but you would need a soakaway anyway for that.

"You will not need planning permission if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses permeable (or porous) surfacing which allows water to drain through, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally."

Edit - beaten!

Agreed with above - I'd go from the lamppost or tree onwards.
 
Oh don't get me wrong, I'm not using the whole of the lawn space, just doubling the width of the current section, roughly what you are both describing.

driveway2.png


Although I'd take it right up to the flagstone path around the front of the house.
 
Freehold or Leasehold?

If it's leasehold then you will definitely need permission from your lease holder, who on a new estate, may not grant this to you. Most new estates don't even allow things like the cosmetic appearance of the garage door to be changed...

Probably worth checking before anything else. If it's freehold then happy days.
 
manic_man said:
Freehold or Leasehold?

If it's leasehold then you will definitely need permission from your lease holder, who on a new estate, may not grant this to you. Most new estates don't even allow things like the cosmetic appearance of the garage door to be changed...

Probably worth checking before anything else. If it's freehold then happy days.
Click to expand...

seeing as the house next door has also done it I can't see it being a problem, especially on and end house.
 
Shouldn't be any problems then, my dad has just done almost exactly what you describe on a 15 year old freehold house, no problems with planning, the only issue he had was doing the work itself and getting a reliable company to lay tarmac! (four contracted, only one showed up..)

With my house (leasehold on 10 year old estate) it wouldn't be possible, we checked on another property on the same estate we were considering that had a single driveway and the leaseholder was adamant. In the end we bought a double driveway'd house and intend to try and purchase the lease but that's another story.
 
Unless you're dead set on reducing the mowers usage. Have you considered those plastic grids for the grass?

Used to have a nice front lawn but you could still park on it at my old place.
 
Mynight said:
Unless you're dead set on reducing the mowers usage. Have you considered those plastic grids for the grass?

Used to have a nice front lawn but you could still park on it at my old place.
Click to expand...

The reducing mower usage was tongue in cheek, that's a bonus not a requirement. However I don't want to wash my vehicle(s) over grass, I'd rather have a proper driveway for that.

manic_man said:
Shouldn't be any problems then, my dad has just done almost exactly what you describe on a 15 year old freehold house, no problems with planning, the only issue he had was doing the work itself and getting a reliable company to lay tarmac! (four contracted, only one showed up..)
Click to expand...

That won't be a problem. Family contacts for both aggregates and the construction elements. \o/ It'll also be done at cost.
 
Just tarmac for now, the associated costs of a house purchase and a wedding this summer have meant that having a tarmac drive done at cost is going to be affordable.
 
think i'd be tempted to wait and save for a proper paving job. My tarmac drive is getting on now and it's constantly being brought into the house.

Better to save and do it the way you want than do a cheap job for now and have to pay again in the future
 
paradigm said:
Just tarmac for now, the associated costs of a house purchase and a wedding this summer have meant that having a tarmac drive done at cost is going to be affordable.
Click to expand...

I understand that pain having been through it! All the best for the wedding! :)

Hopefully the tarmac will last a reasonable amount of time :)
 
Personally i would be tempted to do this in that situation, then you maintain access to the garage while parking 2 other cars:
5miGJKc.jpg
 
My picture is a bit rubbish and I'm not really sure how much space there really is...maybe angle the spaces?
 
The current driveway is about wide enough for a car with one door open. The remaining lawnspace is about 2.5x the width of the drive, so your idea would work Jez, but I'd rather park facing the house, as getting off could prove tricky depending on how close next-door park to our drive.
 
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