Cheapest driveway options

ThisIsWeird

The main issue is that pavement wall, or lack thereof. Are you planning anything with that, either rebuild the missing part, or remove the rest?

I think I'd remove, and add a purdy wooden fence - give the place an immediate lift in kerbiepeal.

As for that area, as others have said - remove any high turfs, and then simply geotextile and decorative gravel. Add decorative stepping slabs/stones in an elongated S-shape from the front entrance to the side gate (and fit a gate there...), and then add large planters with lovely shrubs and grasses around the path.

Finally paint that lower house wall in a suitable colour, possible just matt black.

Lowest possible cost, and then simply point out to potential buyers - tho' they'd have worked this out for themselves - "It's large enough for an additional parking space if one preferred. Does one?"

Start to check out your local Fb Marketplace now for planters - buy up anything remotely suitable - they can be bought very cheaply, and painted if necessary.

Do this work asap, so you actually enjoy it yourself before you sell :-)

Section62

ThisIsWeird said:

The main issue is that pavement wall, or lack thereof. Are you planning anything with that, either rebuild the missing part, or remove the rest?

I think I'd remove, and add a purdy wooden fence - give the place an immediate lift in kerbiepeal.

As for that area, as others have said - remove any high turfs, and then simply geotextile and decorative gravel. Add decorative stepping slabs/stones in an elongated S-shape from the front entrance to the side gate (and fit a gate there...), and then add large planters with lovely shrubs and grasses around the path.

Finally paint that lower house wall in a suitable colour, possible just matt black.

Lowest possible cost, and then simply point out to potential buyers - tho' they'd have worked this out for themselves - "It's large enough for an additional parking space if one preferred. Does one?"

I agree sorting the wall should be the priority. But the slope will be a problem for using gravel - the gravel will tend to migrate down the slope and spread out over the footway unless there is something solid to prevent it.  That may result in a visit from the highways department and an insistance on the first 'x' metres from the highway being redone with a solid surface.

I think the width of the grassed area (from the bay to the footway) isn't really enough for a proper parking space, and depending on the local council's policy, may also result in a knock on the door if used for parking.

TBH I'm not sure investing money in making this into an additional parking space is likely to increase the value of the property in a way which generates a positive rate of return.  The area could benefit from a tidy up and cosmetic work, but anything more substantial probably won't be a good use of money.

dinosaur66

its too small for anything but a smart car

if it were me doing it for a tennant and not myself

mattock £20 -buy screwfix they do a very good one light and very strong - it will take out your bushes and stumps

it will remove your grass and topsoil / you want it down to 2 /3 inch below them paving slabs at the back

buy a rake local facebook marketplace / i would guess a £5

artifical grass runner offcut 4 m x 1m just by looking at photo but you will have to measure / buy on facebook marketplace £15 to £20

3 harris rails 12 foot long ( they are the triangle shaped top of garden fences except they are much bigger and 4 inches which councils use on tere side of the road fences )  £10 each in builders merchants / i think b and m do them as well / i always had a van so might have to ask a mate to pick them up or you might be lucky and live close/ they do not weigh much

 a market traders ground sheet or top sheet 20 by 10 does not matter if it has a few holes you have to put some carving knife holes in it anyway to let rainwater drain to soil / make sure it is 600 thickness -i use advertising hording sheets they are very very thick and heavy but hard to find £25

i would go at the same angle as you have been walking to and from your back gate and  use matock to scrape a further 2 inch deeper and the harris rails as your guide and articial grass width as your width guide to keep it straight /rake it flat as you can

cut of a bit of ground sheet and put it in scraped out trench

5 bags of type 1 mot £25 (basically ground down rubble )and fill the trench and if you can get your car in there drive over the mot slowly to compact it down/

now cut out sheet /does not have to be perfect and put it down both sides/ if you have any left over double layer it/ now put carving knife and stab sheet putting about 10 holes each side / just thin slits do not twist /

buy 25 bags or half ton bag of whatever stones you fancy cheaper the half ton or ton bag bigger the stones you chose more bags you need /smaller stones have more coverage £150 to £200

put down artifical grass strip

put down 2 harris rails on top of edge of articial grass 

cut 3rd harris rail and run to along side your block paving to house wall

fill up rest of spaces with the stones and rake flat

when all done i would put in 4 by 4 posts and timbers to extend your wall where it has broken to block paving and then buy a piece of 40mm or thicker new artifical grass and cover the whole wall and fence both sides and bolt it in -cost £150 approx

things not factored in is disposle of your soil councils allow 3 wheelbarrow loads at the refuse center / so  if you buy some good rubble bags and stack the barrow they supply high you will have most of it gone/skips are a rip off.

total cost £500 approx

JuzaMum

The area is large enough to meet council spec for off road parking, minimum is 2.6 x 5m. The space is 3 x 6m.
Thanks for the comments and suggestions. Fortunately the drop kerb extends enough not to need any work

ThisIsWeird

Section62 said:

I agree sorting the wall should be the priority. But the slope will be a problem for using gravel - the gravel will tend to migrate down the slope and spread out over the footway unless there is something solid to prevent it.  That may result in a visit from the highways department and an insistance on the first 'x' metres from the highway being redone with a solid surface.

I think the width of the grassed area (from the bay to the footway) isn't really enough for a proper parking space, and depending on the local council's policy, may also result in a knock on the door if used for parking.

TBH I'm not sure investing money in making this into an additional parking space is likely to increase the value of the property in a way which generates a positive rate of return.  The area could benefit from a tidy up and cosmetic work, but anything more substantial probably won't be a good use of money.

I see now it is quite slopy. But the gravel board of a new fence should stop any migration on to the public footpath.

In any case, since it won't be walked on, the gravel should stay put. If Juza excavates a couple of inches below the existing driveway level, jobbie should be jobbed with gravel taken back up to matching level.

No idea whether it's large enough for parking, but it just needs tidying up for one's sanity. And to make the house more sellable.

JuzaMum

Thank you to everyone who commented. In the end, I paid to have it tarmacked with block edging, I also had slabs laid so the drive meets the path to the front door. It looks a lot tidier and the local dog walkers seem to have stop using it as a handy toilet now! 

ThisIsWeird

Good call - very nice.

And thanks for the update - it's always a pleasure to see.

Eldi_Dos

Wonder if the smell of fresh tar is acting as a deterrent  and causing dogs to go elsewhere?

Ditto for the update.

Eldi_Dos

Bookworm105 said:

the cheapest option will, of course, be to put down a permeable surface covering 

will that add value?
very unlikely since it will look cheap 

I think there is a case for properties with non permeable driveways being moved up a band on their council tax.This would go someway to helping with the costs that we are all having to fund to improve flood defences and improvements to the drainage and sewer systems to stop discharges of sewerage into waterways.