Block paving driveway - DIY or Proffessionals ?

planning_officer

Sorry, but there's some inaccurate advice here. Planning permission is required for a hard surface that is greater than 5 sqm in area and is located between the house and a highway - unless it is porous or allows for natural drainage to a porous or permeable surface within the curtilage (like a flowerbed or lawn).

Johnhowell wrote: »

If the OP is replacing an existing paved area (as described) with block paving and not increasing the drained area by a certain percentage, then planning would not be an issue.

Yes it could be - planning permission is also required for replacement hard surfaces, not just brand new ones (subject to the criteria I listed above).

Johnhowell wrote: »

Also, Planning Permission is not required if the receiving road is a Private Road or none of the run off goes into foul or public maintain sewer system.

The legislation says a 'highway' - in planning terms, whether it is private/public/adopted/unadopted makes absolutely no difference. A private road is a highway in planning terms.

planning_officer

Kiran wrote: »

Block paving is counted as a porous surface. You don't need planning permission as you do with tarmac.

Quick geology lesson: the porosity of any type of material depends on the ratio of openings (voids) within it, i.e. how easily it can absorb water. Every material has a different porosity. You cannot therefore cover everything with the blanket statement that 'block paving is counted as a porous surface', as it depends what it is made from. If the 'blocks' are of granite, for example, which is not particularly porous, then of course it won't be porous. However, if the blocks themselves are made of a porous rock, then it would be a porous surface. As block paving can be constructed using a variety of rocks/materials, you cannot just say it is a porous surface, as it may well not be. Likewise, you can now get porous asphalt, so every surface has to be assessed on its own merits.