Are permeable paving regs being disregarded?

[Bill Payer]

Hi,
I’ve used this brilliant web site for a few years now and learn’t lots of useful stuff. (Many thanks Tony, it’s very impressive, I don’t know how you find the time) I’ve now just registered so I can post a query.

Over the last couple of days I’ve had three paving contractors round to give me quotes for replacing my concrete driveway with either block pavers or Indian sandstone. Not one of them mentioned the need for permeable paving and/or provision of appropriate drainage (particularly applicable in my case as the drive slopes down to the road) When I raised the issue they all said that it only applies to new drives not replacement which I know is not true. As there is very little in the media about these regulations I get the impression that most paving companies and house owners are just ignoring them and hoping they don’t get caught. Has anyone heard of any driveways which have been investigated by Planning departments and ordered to be ripped up?

Cheers Bill

[msh paving]

Not in Norfolk MSH

[irishpaving]

Not in Milton Keynes :;):

[Mikey_C]

not that I know of in Bournemouth, and plenty are ignoring it!

[lutonlagerlout]

test

[lutonlagerlout]

on mrs louts 10 yr old laptop,managed to fry my pc due to overclocking
I hate these craptop thingys but yes they are asking for suds in luton and there are enforcement notices in place,whether the peoplein question will take any notice is another thing
LLL

[Dave_L]

Not aware of any enforcement of the regs here in Somerset/Devon but it is general 'good practice' in the trade not to discharge run off water over a footpath onto the highway.

Any new works we'd do would include a run of Aco drainage across the driveway to a soakaway etc etc alleviate this.

[zulidutch]

This is the million dollar question? a number or drive replacements have been carried out near me recently and none of them have used permeable paving (or any other means to prevent water discharging from the property). I am currently planning to extend/replace my driveway and with a heavy clay soil have very limited options if I am going to attempt to comply with the regs? but it seems to me that noone else is giving a t055 about them? so I am wondering whether I should bother

[lutonlagerlout]

the mere fact that you are asking shows your concern
ring your local building control officer for an informal chat (i.e. dont tell him where you live) and see how the ground lies
they arent all monsters,but see what he/she says
LLL

[mickg]

I spoke with a local building control officer in October 2008 when this new legislation first came out and he said its got nothing to do with our department its the planning department you need to get in touch with

[DNgroundworks]

When i send a quote for a driveway off to a customer (after a site visit) i give them two prices, one with suds and one without, and explain to them (as best as i can) what the legislation is all about.

I leave it up to the customer to decide as it is the home owner that is liable, only one has opted for suds so far. putting a large one in a new build soon though.

TBH most contractors seem to just completley disregard the new legislaion round here.

[lutonlagerlout]

well as we are not applying for planning i ask the BCO just to make a note that we have installed a SUDS system when he/she is on one of his visits,which they are happy enough to do, and it saves grief if anyone kicks up a fuss later

my friendly BCO tells me there are enforcement orders in place in luton but the planners lack the financial clout to start ripping up drives ,taking down illegal dwellings etc

1 of the main sticking points is language, the builder may be polish/ukrainian the client may be pakistani,chinese and to enforce this notice you will need hours of translation service at massive cost to the council tax payers,
and because of course, when it gets to court,no one is working and they all claim legal aid

you couldnt make it up

LLL

ps since its inception we install suds as a matter of course,I dont like comebacks

[vortex]

Over the past few months I have questioned five separate contractors who I have passed on my cycle trips (I do a lot of cycling!). All were front gardens being paved over - four were direct slopes to the pavement - one was level over the largest area with one corner sloping toward the pavement.
I broached the subject of permeable paving stating that I was looking for a job to be done for my Mother (I am!) and was aware of the rule changes. Not one of these jobs was using permeable paving (or soakaways etc) and all said everyone else they knew was ignoring the legislation. One guy said he started quoting for permeable as soon as the legislation came in but lost out on every job to other contractors - so he stopped quoting for it.
So from my small sample it might appear the legislation is being widely ignored.

[zulidutch]

That's all very interesting, and sounds like they are being ignored, maybe I will call local BC and have aa anonymous chat with them.

[lutonlagerlout]

its never a bad thing to cover your self dutch
all of us here know the legislation is flawed, but I dont want to go to work and break the law (I can do that in the pub or street later on :;): )
we vote these local councillors in,so we are hoisted by our own petard
LLL