Is your driveway illegal and in danger of being ripped up!
13/11/2009
That’s the question thousands of homeowners need to ask themselves following a recent survey which reveals regulations governing new and replacement domestic driveways have not been adequately communicated.
The survey of 2280 GB adults, commissioned by Brett Landscaping, reports less than 1 in 10 respondents (8%) have noticed any press stories on the regulations which came into force one year ago and which stipulate that homeowners can no longer create or replace their driveways without considering if planning permission is required.
The regulations were introduced in October 2008 to help alleviate the risk of flooding and pollution of water courses. Some 5 million people live in high flood risk areas in the UK and during the floods which hit in the summer of 2007 over 57,000 homes were affected at an estimated £3bn in damage. The Environment Agency estimates that up to two-thirds of the floods were caused by surface water runoff overloading the drainage system.
Speaking about the survey results, Bob Deller of Brett Landscaping said;
“The findings of the survey are worrying. If homeowners are not aware of the regulations, there is a strong possibility that many new driveways installed in the last year may not be legal.
As it is the responsibility of the homeowner to assess whether they need planning permission and to make the application, the fact that news of the regulations has gone largely unnoticed suggests that many may have installed or commissioned drives and patios which might need to be replaced.
There may also be ramifications for people selling houses if they feature new driveways or front gardens which do not meet the new regulations. Clearly more needs to be done to educate homeowners about their responsibilities and their options if they are planning work at the front of their properties.
A permeable solution is easy and simple to install, as both builders merchants and contractors are generally well briefed. Householders can find information for themselves on the government websites. If a permeable paving solution cannot be installed, homeowners planning new driveways or patios need to complete the standard council planning application documents, provide a scale drawing, and pay a fee of £150. Such planning decisions are normally turned around within eight weeks.”
Allowable options which do not require planning permission come under the wider category of Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS), which provide surface water management that replicates natural drainage patterns. These include designs which take water away from sewers and drains, or permeable paving systems which let surface water drain straight into the ground.
Brett Landscaping is advising householders to seek professional advice before embarking on paving projects to ensure they do not fall foul of the law. Advice is available from reputable builders merchants, product manufacturers and approved installers.
For more information on the legislation and permeable options click here.