Driveway Minimum Sizing

chloesdad

I’m currently looking at getting a driveway constructed at the front of my house. It will need planning permission as we are on a B road.

The local authority guidance states that the minimum driveway length is 4.8m and that any plans for something smaller is “unlikely to be approved”. 

I just wondered whether anyone has had any recent experience as to how strictly councils take the minimum length? I appreciate that will vary from council to council, and we will be submitting a pre-planning enquiry, but would still welcome thoughts and experiences!

Cash-Cows

4.8m is quite short and most say 5m or longer. It's unlikely you will get agreement to anything shorter because the car won't fit without the back overhanging your boundary. 

DevilDamo

The majority of LPA’s do adopt the minimum 2.4m wide x 4.8m long. However, they will or should also take into account the existing situation because these minimum sizes haven’t always been a ‘thing’. For example, if the front wall of your house was only 4m from the boundary, then they can’t ask or force you to provide a 4.8m long space. If others in the vicinity have achieved something similar, then that will help although not guarantee approval. Working with the LPA to get the best you can is all they can really ask.

ChocolateWombat

The fact other people had approval given in the past isn’t something that makes a good case for a shorter frontage.

Planning conditions or requirements change all the time.  Current regulations are what matters.

Some councils will allow you to park perpendicular (horizontal rather than vertical) if your property is wide enough and doing this won’t cause parking stress - ie it’s not a road with lots of pressure for parking spaces, as horizontal parking will usually mean 2 roadside spaces being lost.

Some councils also allow short frontage agreements whereby you sign a legal agreement that you will only have venhicles that fit the driveway.  A charge is attached to the property and it goes with the property if you sell.  These are often picked up by solicitors who advise their clients agai t buying properties with these restrictions.  In reality, few cars fit short frontage agreements.  The council often will check too and if someone has a car over hanging will fine and then remove the dropped kerb.

It feels unfair that different areas have different requirements, but this is an area under individual council control.  Some areas have lost loads if roadside parking and the streetscape scene if trees, front gardens etc is ruined enough already and they are resisitimg  strongly.  It will only get harsher.  It’s annoying, but the only way to ensure parking is to buy property that has it already or to buy having checked the criteria and apply immediately before the rules tighten up recon more.  Disappointing I know, but sometimes you have to accept it and that there’s not a way to wriggle to get what you want.