New driveway

Cupcaker

Hello
Can anyone advise on putting in a new driveway at the front of a house?
We were advised by the planning office that we didn't need planning, we just needed permission from the roads service to change the pavement at the entrance to the drive. So we went on and got the area cleared ready for tarmac-ing. The road service called today and said that we do need planning permission for the drive and that the planning office have got it wrong! Have been bounced back and forth between the two for most of the morning, the planning office still saying that we don't need permission from them. They have now said that we do need planning, but they don't know if we have to get an architect or if we can draw up the plans ourselves. (It's about 11 x 20 ft).

Am getting worried now that this is going to cost a lot more that we envisaged if we've to get an Architect involved as well as pay for planning. Any advise would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

cootuk

http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planningandbuilding/pdf/pavingfrontgardens.pdf

Mistral001

Get it all put in writing from these departments.

That way they will think a little bit more about their advice before they give it. You might end up with not requiring Planning Permission.


Edit: In saying that, you probably need Planning permission as it is a "New" driveway. The link given by Cootuk is relevant.

Getting government department to put "advice" in writing is a bit too much to hope for in NI I am afraid anyway.

absoluteutopia

I had a new one put in last year 22x14ft and only needed permission to lower the kerb. Nothing else was required because i double checked, it was a "new" drive ie garden converted

A.L.D.A

Your permitted development rights are listed here; worth reading as they are extremely limited!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/nisr/2011/75/schedule/1/made?view=plain

I strongly advise that even if you think what you are doing is a permitted development that you get confirmation in writhing, no matter what it is, a Porch. small extension, whatever. Proof may be required when you come to sell. Also the way you read this and the Planners interpret it can be very different. To get the written proof you apply for a 'certificate of lawfulness'.

If you are carrying out work to an adopted road or footpath you need to take out a bond. Contact the Roads Service, they will be quite helpful.


On the permitted developments above I strongly urge people to read it. The parts about decking and oil tanks may surprise some of you!

motorguy

Roads Service are a bunch of !!!!s.

Cupcaker

Thanks for your replies.
After a bit of a runaround, we finally got speaking to someone who seemed to know the craic. It turns out we do indeed need planning permission as we are opening our garden up so it's a new entrance and new driveway. Planning permission can take up to 6 months to come through as there is currently a backlog! In for a bit of a wait, but hopefully it'll be worth it!

A.L.D.A

Cupcaker wrote: »

Thanks for your replies.
After a bit of a runaround, we finally got speaking to someone who seemed to know the craic. It turns out we do indeed need planning permission as we are opening our garden up so it's a new entrance and new driveway. Planning permission can take up to 6 months to come through as there is currently a backlog! In for a bit of a wait, but hopefully it'll be worth it!

Backlog with the building industry in dire recession. Enough to make you weep.

If they would stop creating unnecessary problems, had some set work load, applications processed per month per person, ratio of approvals and refusals per person, they would soon find which Planning Officers were productive and which counter productive.

There are a lot of good people in the Planning Service, but that department, in its current form, is a massive cost to the local economy. Jobs and investment lost, costs of applying prohibitive and in the end it is you and I who pay.