Permission to Convert Lawn to Parking?

BerkshireJohn

Hi - we've seen a house that we like that looked in the estate agent photos like part of the front garden had been converted into a proper parking space. We've now walked past and the "parking space" is actually some paving stones that have just been placed on the grass in a very uneven way. There is a shared drive next to the front garden that has access to a garage at the back so there is a dropped curb that could be used to drive onto the paving stones (the shared drive couldn't be used for parking as it would block the neighbours access). Does anyone know if the current owners should have got planning permission to lay the paving stones? thanks in advance

lemontart

planning permission to lay paving stones in their front garden ?, they would only need that if heritage area or graded building or there is something specifically saying something in the deeds. Therefore the only folk that could answer that is the occupier or local council.

BerkshireJohn

Thanks for the reply. It's definitely not a heritage area. Now you've said that it makes sense that they wouldn't need permission - I guess its no different than someone deciding to park on their lawn

chris_m

Planning permission is required in some circumstances;
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/pavingfrontgarden/

It's basically to do with what happens to the water when it rains - permeable/porous surfaces are OK, bog-standard concrete or tarmac aren't unless the rainwater can still drain away into the ground within the premises boundary - i.e. not being directed into the public drains.

No problem with a few concrete slabs laid across the lawn and the remainder of the area still being grass.

lfc321

Dropping the kerb requires permission.

Dan-Dan

lots of areas where i`m from , not sure if the council see ££££ signs , but loads of people do as the OP has noticed , then just whack their cars straight up the non dropped kerb , voila off road parking

hazyjo

If you've had no previous experience of shared drives, you might want to search the forum for some views/opinions/experiences. Plenty you probably haven't considered (I for one would never buy a house with a shared drive).

It can cost a lot for a 'proper' driveway. Obviously they're just using the dropped kerb to then drive across onto the front of their property. Won't stop anyone parking in front of the house though if no dropped kerb.

As far as I know, there are different regs for each council. Some won't allow parking in 'front gardens', others won't mind. It probably won't have been a case of needing planning permission for the slabs, it'll be whether they permit it. I could have squeezed my smart car in front of my old house but I'm sure the council would've been on me like a tonne of bricks. Yet there's a house in my current road which has no dropped kerb but they've paved their front garden and use that. Nothing's said cos it looks like a proper driveway and several other houses have driveways.

Jx

Mallotum_X

lfc321 wrote: »

Dropping the kerb requires permission.

Not planning permission though.

Most councils charge an arm and a leg to do it and you have to use them.

Not worth dropping the curb if you can get away with out, providing the pavement is strong enough and wont break up.

paddedjohn

Mallotum_X wrote: »

Not planning permission though.

Most councils charge an arm and a leg to do it and you have to use them.

Not worth dropping the curb if you can get away with out, providing the pavement is strong enough and wont break up.

It is an offence to drive over the pavement without a dropped kerb.

witchy1066

the slabs with permission or not would not be a problem for me but the shared drive would be ,you say you couldn't park on the drive without blocking the access, what if your neighbours or more likely your neighbours visitors park on the drive , would it block your access.

could it be you are focusing on the wrong thing, just a thought

bouicca21

My local council insist on a minimum length of garden as well as the permeable surface, so worth checking out.