Driveway

User4search

This is my rear side car parking but as you see it is very sloppy and  previous owner not done anything to improve it in last 25 years  so over the time ground surface has become uneven. I have spoken with one guy to get the driveway done. I am so thinking to cut those trees to widen the drive way for at least 3 cars . Do I  also need to take council permission to drop the curb to widen the drive way? Also suggest what kind of drive way most long lasting and as per law. 

Slithery

Does that land actually belong to you?

Section62

User4search said:

Do I  also need to take council permission to drop the curb to widen the drive way?

Yes, and the council would probably want to organise the kerb work themselves, or make you use their approved contractor.

They are possibly likely to object to you widening that existing drive because it is accessed from a busy road. I'd suggest you would be better off thinking about getting the driveway moved round to the front of the house - partly because that would be less of a concern for the council safety-wise, but also better for the security of your cars.

But whatever you decide, I wouldn't get the driveway done before the significant building works you are thinking about - if you get a brand new drive before the building work it is likely to look like an old and knackered one by the time the builders have finished using it.

User4search

Section62 said:

User4search said:

Do I  also need to take council permission to drop the curb to widen the drive way?

Yes, and the council would probably want to organise the kerb work themselves, or make you use their approved contractor.

They are possibly likely to object to you widening that existing drive because it is accessed from a busy road. I'd suggest you would be better off thinking about getting the driveway moved round to the front of the house - partly because that would be less of a concern for the council safety-wise, but also better for the security of your cars.

But whatever you decide, I wouldn't get the driveway done before the significant building works you are thinking about - if you get a brand new drive before the building work it is likely to look like an old and knackered one by the time the builders have finished using it.

Yes I own the area to build drive way. Whole house is surrounded by big trees. You can see my neighbour's front parking is adjunct to My rear parking . I  am not doing big extentions for next few years as I dont have money for now. I would be ònlu doing necessary thing like proper  parking , carpets , kitchen fixing etc. 

FreeBear

Unless you use a permeable paving, you'll need planning permission for concrete or tarmac. Block paving (brick weave) is probably going to be the most suitable - Depending on which style/type you go for, it needn't be hugely expensive.

Did 30m² a couple of months back, and it cost me about £800 for materials and £500 for labour (mini digger plus driver) and waste disposal. If you are paying someone to do the whole lot, expect to pay £80-120 per square metre.

Soot2006

I wouldn't bother dropping the kerb any more than it already is - just drive in at an angle (unless people routinely park right up to the kerb!) ... Unlike FreeBear, I don't have the skills to do my own driveway. I recently had 45m² done - removing old concrete and old overlaid tarmac, new sub base, etc, then block paving. £4250. That was cheaper by about £1k than the next quote (this is Brighton, after all) but company seems to have good "cheap and cheerful" reviews overall ... So far so good!

Section62

Soot2006 said:

I wouldn't bother dropping the kerb any more than it already is - just drive in at an angle (unless people routinely park right up to the kerb!) ...

Unfortunately for the OP this is almost certainly a principal road, so I think any alteration of the driveway is going to involve planning consent to which the highway authority are likely to object on grounds of safety (it is a corner plot with a busy roundabout junction).

On a quieter residential road I agree that he would probably get away with widening the drive without increasing the dropped kerb length, but in this location having to reverse out at an angle is problematic.

There would also be zero visibility of pedestrians and cyclists for the driver reversing out of the new space - unless the OP cuts down all the trees on that boundary and replaces them with a (very) low fence. Although getting rid of Leylandii type trees is usually popular, in this case I suspect they are vital in screening the OP's house from the noise of the road, exacerbated by the need for drivers to brake and accelerate at the roundabout. It wouldn't surprise me if the previous owner planted them and let them grow out of control due to the road noise.

Essentially it is unlikely the OP would get away with widening the drive without permission, without either the council or highway authority noticing. And if he asks for permission it will probably get turned down, or only permitted at the expense of loss of privacy and protection against noise.

Hence me thinking he would be better off moving the driveway around to the front of the house where it makes more sense to have it anyway, and where the consents are more likely to be given.

User4search

Thanks previous owner used to park 2 cars there. I am looking to get extra bit of space , may be couple of more feets so I can park 2nd car more comfortably.  

Pok3mon

If it is not seen from house I would get rid of trees, leave drop kerb alone, widen to size wanted using concrete, quick simple easy. Drainage would not be a issue as it goes onto the road already. 

Leave the kerb alone.

I don't think planning would be a issue as already used for parking.

Section62

Pok3mon said:

I don't think planning would be a issue as already used for parking.

In this case it isn't about what the existing area is used for, the OP wants to increase the size of the area. Originally by enough for 3 cars, but now just to make it a bit wider for 2.

Being a classified road - possibly principal - the changes wouldn't come under permitted development.

So the question will be whether the alteration is significant enough to count as development, or if the OP is content to replace like-with-like.

My view is the planning and highway authorities will probably take a hard line on this due to the nature of the road. But the OP would only know for sure by asking them.

User4search

Ok good solution.  There are pillers at both sides as you can see in pic. Are they placed by council or can that be removed to increase the parking after removing trees? 

Parking place is very sloppy as well and concrete is coming off. I like to digg up that and flatten the surface as well. Will that be issue? Do I need to use concrete only or can I go for block or other sort of paving? 

Do I need to still ask for council planning approval or just inform them ?