Planning permission for tarmac driveway?

TELLIT01

greensalad said:

FreeBear said:

greensalad said: To be frank, my neighbours have a huge mix of driveway styles and none are particularly attractive. The majority are cracked 1960s concrete. There are two with tarmac driveways, so it’s OK for them but not for me? They are in a prominent position on the street.

Don't know when drives fell under the remit of Planning, but your neighbours may have had the work done before it became a requirement. If done recently, it could be that they didn't bother with filing an application and the council are unaware.

I wasn’t suggesting that they didn’t have planning, more that it would be hypocritical for them to object to the planning on aesthetic reasons when they themselves have tarmac driveways.

If their tarmac drives were laid before the new rules about permeability were brought in it's not hypocritical for them to object to new works which don't conform with current regulations.  The only way to get a definitive answer to the PP question is to talk to your local council.  They may well charge for the advice, but that's likely to be much cheaper than laying a surface which they then order to be ripped back up.

Eldi_Dos

@greensalad:
 Have you considered taking out the old concrete and getting two runways installed, either concrete or blocks.Then suitable edging put in and gravel laid,could be cost effective and presumably better for drainage.

greensalad

TELLIT01 said:

greensalad said:

FreeBear said:

greensalad said: To be frank, my neighbours have a huge mix of driveway styles and none are particularly attractive. The majority are cracked 1960s concrete. There are two with tarmac driveways, so it’s OK for them but not for me? They are in a prominent position on the street.

Don't know when drives fell under the remit of Planning, but your neighbours may have had the work done before it became a requirement. If done recently, it could be that they didn't bother with filing an application and the council are unaware.

I wasn’t suggesting that they didn’t have planning, more that it would be hypocritical for them to object to the planning on aesthetic reasons when they themselves have tarmac driveways.

If their tarmac drives were laid before the new rules about permeability were brought in it's not hypocritical for them to object to new works which don't conform with current regulations.  The only way to get a definitive answer to the PP question is to talk to your local council.  They may well charge for the advice, but that's likely to be much cheaper than laying a surface which they then order to be ripped back up.

My point is that if I provide the drainage, therefore there is nothing to object to on the grounds of no drainage, then do I need planning permission? It seems from everything I’ve read the only thing that would block planning permission is drainage not being considered. So if this was considered, reading the guidelines, it seems that planning permission wouldn’t be needed? This is what I’m trying to ascertain. 

greensalad

“If the surface to be covered is more than five square metres planning permission will be needed for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not provide for the water to run to a permeable area.”

So if a channel drain is considered a more “permeable area”, does it sound like I need planning permission? That’s all I’m asking.

greensalad

Eldi_Dos said:

@greensalad:
 Have you considered taking out the old concrete and getting two runways installed, either concrete or blocks.Then suitable edging put in and gravel laid,could be cost effective and presumably better for drainage.

I think gravel won’t be suitable due to the fairly significant slope.

FreeBear

greensalad said:

“If the surface to be covered is more than five square metres planning permission will be needed for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not provide for the water to run to a permeable area.”

So if a channel drain is considered a more “permeable area”, does it sound like I need planning permission? That’s all I’m asking.

A channel drain needs to go to a soakaway - There are minimum distances from buildings & boundaries that need to be complied with, and it also needs to be sized appropriately for the size of the driveway and soil conditions. Drainage would be part of the planning application.

rubble2

Apologies for jumping in on this thread but I wonder if anyone could advise us on our related situation please?
Our house is 20 years old and has an existing tarmac drive (as do many other properties in the development).

We have been here just over 4 years and are looking at getting the driveway relaid with tarmac, as it is already tarmac would a direct replacement be considered as a new driveway and be subject to current planning requirements or does the fact that it would be a like for like replacement absolve it from those requirements?

Thanks

MeteredOut

greensalad said:

Ectophile said:

You may find that the council have no problem with you tarmacing your drive, privided that you install a land drain at the appropriate point.

The main reason planning was extended to driveways is the poblem of water pouring off people's driveways and flooding the roads.

Yeah this is what I'm trying to figure out. My thought was to put a channel drain in the section nearest the road so that it is not soaking away into the public drain. 

Where are you proposing this channel drain flows to, if not a public drain. Will you be able to direct the water onto (what will remain of ) your front garden?

FreeBear

rubble2 said:

Apologies for jumping in on this thread but I wonder if anyone could advise us on our related situation please?
Our house is 20 years old and has an existing tarmac drive (as do many other properties in the development).

We have been here just over 4 years and are looking at getting the driveway relaid with tarmac, as it is already tarmac would a direct replacement be considered as a new driveway and be subject to current planning requirements or does the fact that it would be a like for like replacement absolve it from those requirements?

You should be fine doing a like for like replacement without needing to apply for planning permission.