Would I need planning permission to put down a slate chipping area..

Psychobabble

Been having a look at a few previous threads on paving etc, but haven't found anything that quite answers this so far.

I have a concrete drive large enough for one vehicle, as I need more space for off road parking , I am considering digging up the 5m X 6m adjacent lawn and laying a slate chipping covered parking space, the lawn has a natural fall from the house.
Would be looking to dig down about 6 inches, then lay a weed suppress fabric, then 4 inches of hardcore tamped down with a whacker plate, and then lay 2 inches of slate chippings on top, wondering would this be counted as a porous covering.

Anyone know if this could be a problem re planning or would I need to contact the planning dept to check anyway.

dougk_2

I woulld have thought it would be classed as porous. If its just for a car though, personally I wouldn't bother with the harcore! In the past I have just removed the turf, compressed the soil with a heavy roller, placed down the weed fabric then place about 3 inches of gravel on top.
I am not sure about putting the hardcore on top of the weed control fabric as the weeds will grow in the hardcore and the hardcore when compacted would split the fabric.
I wouldn't say slate is a good thing to drive or park on myself. Slate can break-up and is very sharp and could quite easily cut tyres. Round gravel is a better bet (and much cheaper!)

AdrianW2

I'm planning something similar.

First off - is the drive extension going to project in front of the house? If not you're in the clear anyway (from a planning perspective, the old legislation prohibiting water discharging onto the highway still applies).

The Environment Agency guidance document (I can't post links - Google for "Guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens") says you need a permeable sub-base.

The regulations, on the other hand, are much more vague and, IIRC, don't impose specific rules. In my case I'm planning to put in some fall to the side so that the permeable top layer should drain into the adjacent grass.

Psychobabble

Thanks for the replies and advice so far, having read the guidance suggested, may drop the size to 5m x 5m and use a permeable sub-base instead of regular hardcore base.

My existing drive is to the left of the front of the house and the new area will be in front of the house, where im planning to place the new area there is a 600mm wide path directly in front of the house, then 5 mtrs of lawn to a hedge, then a low 2 course brick wall, then the pavement in front of that then the road, so any water if it doesn't soak in would run toward the bottom of the hedge anyway, not into the road.

robv_3

As your planning department as changing your garden into parking may be counted as change of use. Better still they have open days to chat about such things.

The construction of the driveway comes under building regs and not planning. Again after speaking to planning give the building regs people a call.

AdrianW2

Changing a driveway into parking is a permitted development - Class F of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Regulations 2008 (SI 2362 2008) and so doesn't need planning approval.

That planning approval is subject to the construction being permeable or having provision for draining run-off, so in that respect construction is a planning issue.

That's not to say that there aren't building regs issues as well.

Chippy_Minton_2

Many recently built homes have permitted development rights removed so check your deeds first.