Driveway Ideas

jk0

There are some houses here in Reading that have steep drives sloping down towards the road. There they have built concrete steps in the middle of the drive. Could you do something similar?

Furts

The drive will look awful, so one should also consider a pull in bay.

If a drive is pursued, levels are critical, meaning bottoming out of any vehicle must be avoided. In practical terms this means falling out to the road, which exacerbates the aesthetics.

From a technical perspective the drive will have a retaining wall - unless suitable embankments can be formed. Any retaining wall must be competently designed, and even more so where vehicles are considered. A Structural Engineer should be engaged and a chat with your local Buildings Regulations, Planning and Highways. All will come at a cost.

A full survey of all services in the pavement is required plus a budget for altering their depths, and forming anew pavement crossing.

All in a significant piece of work, that will cost a serious sum to construct - if it is even allowed.

DebbieChandler

Has anyone got any examples of a similar drive that has been converted i.e. the Reading one? or anything so i can view what a retaining wall will look like?

phil24_7

If you raise your garden in any way, shape or form to allow parking. Expect a very unhappy neighbour as you be blocking their light too.

Planning will never pass it if it blocks light and it will not be much use at it's current gradient. They may also likely request a permeable driveway which will cause issues whichever way you do it.

DebbieChandler

I will not block light - it will be only 15foot in of a 30 foot driveway.
We will either have a soakaway or drain built in which doesnt require planning.

phil24_7

DebbieChandler wrote: »

I will not block light - it will be only 15foot in of a 30 foot driveway.
We will either have a soakaway or drain built in which doesnt require planning.

Keep telling yourself that! If you make it flat to drive onto, it will block light.

Draining surface water into your drains will only be allowed by building control if your ground doesn't drain well (clay soil) and a soak-away will need a permeable driveway, which could be problematic on a sloped drive.

DebbieChandler

phil24_7 wrote: »

Keep telling yourself that! If you make it flat to drive onto, it will block light.

Draining surface water into your drains will only be allowed by building control if your ground doesn't drain well (clay soil) and a soak-away will need a permeable driveway, which could be problematic on a sloped drive.

It will not be fully flat, slight slope() so no lighting issue. there still will grass for natural draining too. about 12feet grass and drain and that is enough for no planning permission

phil24_7

If you intend to change 5m2 (or more) of permeable ground into non-permeable ground, you have to seek planning permission unless the run-off is to permeable ground (not something I would want to do on a sloped, grassy garden but that's your choice)

You will also need to seek council permission for a drop-kerb to be installed. They may also need to strengthen the path.

phil24_7

Before you do anything, I would discuss things will your neighbours to find out their views, as if they are against it they could well make it too difficult or expensive to proceed. They may also be interested in doing the same, which could bring cost savings, or a better idea.

theonlywayisup

Can you post a pic of the drive 8 doors down. I know it is on a lesser slope but it might be helpful.

You have to remember, you will lose light. Either it is going to be a big wall or a small wall with a car in front. At the moment you have a flat slope and neither the car nor the wall will be level with the slope you have at present.