Block Paving Planning Permission

Alfster

Hi,
We are selling our house and are being asked questions about our paved driveway. We had it installed in 2014. It is non-porous and far exceed 5 square metres. We did not ask for planning permission. This has also flagged up on the house we are buying and the surveyor we used says planning permission is needed for non-porous driveways exceeding 5m2 post 2014. However, every website I go on seems to say this came into effect in 2008 not 2014. 

Any ideas where to find this information and the exact date the required planning permission starts from?

Thanks

chrisw

It falls under Class F of the The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Amendment) (No. 2) (England) Order 2008. This legislation came into force on 1st October 2008.

https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2008/2362/pdfs/uksi_20082362_en.pdf

Block paving is generally considered a porous surface and is therefore permitted development regardless of size. Something such as imprinted concrete over 5m2 however, would require planning permission. Some guidance here, a bit old but still relevant:-

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7728/pavingfrontgardens.pdf

Davesnave

The council have better things to do than chase people over infringements of planning legislation that are outside the window for enforcement. If a solicitor thinks there's a problem, no doubt a cheap indemnity policy will

suffice, but it's likely the block paving will be seen as compliant.

FreeBear

Davesnave said: but it's likely the block paving will be seen as compliant.

Hope you are right on that. I've just started to lay a block paved drive. Already have measures in place to ensure free drainage, and being on sand, half the battle is won.

A bit more information on how a truly permeable block pavement is constructed - https://www.pavingexpert.com/permeable04 (<nutz>. My hardcore is already down.)

neilmcl

I know block paving has changed since the regulations came out and you can get permeable paving but I don't think standard block paving, or at least the stuff that was being laid prior to the law change was classed as permeable.

Davesnave

Must admit the nibs on the blocks we laid in about 1995 were not wide (3mm?), and the sub-base was sharp sand over fairly open gravel, but we never had any problems with pooling or run off to anywhere except flower beds. We had one drain at the lowest point which led into the small front garden and that always coped.

Block paving is usually better designed now, but in many cases it seems easy enough to me to arrange drainage into a 'rain garden,' and once that's planted up, no one's going to dig it up to view the construction.

I think the intention is to stop total concreting over, such as one sees in places where cramming as many cars into the front garden or avoiding maintenance is a big thing. (Better not be specific about locations!)

TELLIT01

Our block paved drive was redone about 7 years ago and water drains off/through it very quickly.  We don't even get standing water in the slight dips from where the car is always parked on the same spot.  Presumably either the blocks themselves are permeable or the gaps between them permit free drainage.