The Brew Cabin

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:02 pm**

Recently we have had our front garden and shared driveway ripped up and replaced by block paving. The driveway was previously concrete and the remainder of the front garden was crazy paving patio with three square planting boxes where trees grew. The patio was higher than the driveway and was held with a supporting wall. We removed all of this and created one level all the way across including the shared driveway. We had black blocks to mark out the edge of the shared driveway. We created a long slim flower bed on one side running from the house to the road nearly.

The dimensions approx were:-

total area including shared driveway 72m2

block paving front garden excluding shared driveway 42m2

At the time of having the work done we assumed that as we were replacing the driveway and patio with block paving we would not require any pp etc.

We have now requested a domestic vehicle crossover (dropped kerb) so we can access the new paved area to park.

Our council has provided a form which has been a shock....

1) the forecourt area must be of permeable construction, if not pp is required for above 5m2

2) minimum of 30% soft landscaping and preferred 50% within forecourt layout area.

Now, we are a little concerned....and confused, and hopefully members etc can help.....

1) Can I simply install the metal drainage channels at the point where the paving meets the pavement to be considered permeable paving.....as I am sure the blocks are not permeable....and we had type 1 subbase.....
Also, one point, we are in a clay area.....when the front was excavated for the block paving, the digger was removing great amount of clay....just like we used in pottery class at school

. So would permeable paving be any use in this situation anyway...

2)....re the 30%, I have had a quick search of the new legislation and i cannot see any mention of a requirement for 30% soft landscaping..... anyone else heard of this....

If the 30% is applied in this case.....the whole point of paving the front would be lost....as I wanted to our two cars....as the shared driveway situation can sometimes be a nightmare.....if I had to install 30% soft landscaping then I could only park one car.....silly!

help!!! what can I do here to avoid PP and also the 30% rule.

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:34 pm**

where are you?,permable paving is compleaty different construction from standard block paving,
read this part of the main site

MSH

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2009 3:45 pm**

msh paving wrote:where are you?,permable paving is compleaty different construction from standard block paving,
read this part of the main site

MSH

the link doesn't work for me.....any ideas?

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:30 pm**

Try it now and you might be interested in the FAQ

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2009 6:56 pm**

Tony McC wrote:Try it now and you might be interested in the FAQ

Thanks for the information links.

So it appears that I may be able to install a soakaway by means of a drainage channel where the driveway ends and the pavement begins.....the only thing is that the subsoil is clay so surely the soakaway would be pointless?

Re the other point, can the 30% soft landscaping be enforced....surely this is the local council introducing restrictions that are beyond reason or the law?

Posted: **Sat Aug 29, 2009 7:21 pm**

pavingpipe wrote:
Tony McC wrote:Try it now and you might be interested in the FAQ

Thanks for the information links.

So it appears that I may be able to install a soakaway by means of a drainage channel where the driveway ends and the pavement begins.....the only thing is that the subsoil is clay so surely the soakaway would be pointless?

Re the other point, can the 30% soft landscaping be enforced....surely this is the local council introducing restrictions that are beyond reason or the law?

they are a law unto themselves mate, they say jump ,you say "how high?"
i think you have probably hung yourself by requesting the crossover,might have been easier to leave it a bit and say it has always been there
you probably will have to install drainage and a soakaway if the drive discharges onto the footpath
LLL

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2009 8:05 am**

A picture would be handy for us to give advice.

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2009 10:13 am**

Dave_L wrote:A picture would be handy for us to give advice.

how do I post a picture?

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:38 am**

click here

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2009 11:48 am**

This question is asked so regularly, maybe Tony's sticky should be at the top of every section? - just a thought...

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2009 12:07 pm**

Yes, good idea.

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2009 1:28 pm**

Dave_L wrote:A picture would be handy for us to give advice.

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:12 pm**

Firstly: which sticky? The Permeable Paving sticky? Or a separate sticky linking to the FAQ?

Next: pavingpipe's driveway. As it's already constructed, it would be cheaper to apply for retrospective PP and pay the 150 quid than to try to attempt to construct a SUDS installation.

As for the 30% soft-landscaping, while that may be an eminently sensible rule-of-thumb for front garden paving, it is most certainly not part of the legislation and, at best, could be a local by-law, but, more likely, it's a personal desire of the local planners, and, as your paving is already in-situ, it could be challenged.

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:30 pm**

No - meant the posting photies sticky question - there seem to have been loads lately ???

Posted: **Sun Aug 30, 2009 2:39 pm**

Tony McC wrote:Firstly: which sticky? The Permeable Paving sticky? Or a separate sticky linking to the FAQ?

Next: pavingpipe's driveway. As it's already constructed, it would be cheaper to apply for retrospective PP and pay the 150 quid than to try to attempt to construct a SUDS installation.

As for the 30% soft-landscaping, while that may be an eminently sensible rule-of-thumb for front garden paving, it is most certainly not part of the legislation and, at best, could be a local by-law, but, more likely, it's a personal desire of the local planners, and, as your paving is already in-situ, it could be challenged.

surely if I applied for retrospective planning permission, this would be refused as there is no means for the surface water to drain through - ie not permeable and no soakaway. Would it not be better to install the soakaway drainage with the channels along the perimeter shared with the pavement.

Re the 30%, if I follow the rule, then I wouldn't be able to park the cars so what would be the point.

Also, as part of the paving is shared driveway, would this be considered as requiring a separate pp or retrospective pp which would have to be submitted with my neighbour?

The Brew Cabin

Dropped kerb application