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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 1:00 pm
by mpwright
My house has a 50 year old concrete drive that is in a very bad condition. The concrete has cracked and become un-even with large patches of weeds growing. The drive is 25m long, between 2.8m and 5m wide and is very steep with a gradient of 1 in 4 at its steepest point.
I'm after some advice on what the best way forward is for bringing the drive up to date. I'm not too fussed on it looking that nice but would really like a covering that is suitable for the slope, is non slip ideally and not that expensive.
Thanks.
Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 6:59 pm
by lutonlagerlout
concrete or block paving would be most suitable,your width size is very vague but expect to pay around £50-70 per metre for block paving and maybe a bit less for concrete
dont forget you will need some sort of SUDS if it drains to the road
LLL 
Posted: Fri May 15, 2009 8:11 pm
by jay-Manor Driveways
i was of the understanding that if you already had a driveway drains on the road then you dont need any suds for the new drive or have i got that wrong ???
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 8:10 am
by Dave_L
Im of the understanding that any alteration to the surface of the driveway will then fall within the remit of the new regs....
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 8:30 am
by mickg
I was also of that understanding that any alteration to the surface came under the new regs until I heard this.....I have had 3 customers in the last 2 weeks ask at the local planning office and they have replied with
" send us a photo and we will give you a decision as to whether you will need to proceed down the planning approval route or not"
all 3 have told me they have been advised by the planning office that they won't need planning the photo is just a formality
2 are flags and one is tarmac and are being replaced with block paving, the 3 drives are not being made any larger and drain towards the road and there is no front garden left on all of them anyway, the drains are on the back of the house so I can't even connect a drainage channel across the drive/pavement into the drainage system so the water has to flow from the drive onto the pavement
so go figure that because its totally against what is suppose to be the new and current legislation
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 11:51 am
by henpecked
The way I read it was for new projects . Drives that never existed before being built - adding to the drain burden. If a drive was already in place, it would not load the system anymore than it did before.
HP
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 12:13 pm
by Big Phil
aye, that's my interpretation. shouldn't affect existing driveways unless you are planning an extension.
www.communities.gov.uk/documents/planni ... ardens.pdf
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 5:12 pm
by mickg
Guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens
from the leaflet
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
You will not need planning permission if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses
permeable (or porous) surfacing, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or
porous asphalt, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally.
therefore an existing driveway with flags concrete or tarmac will need planning permission to replace it if it discharges the water onto the pavement
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 6:30 pm
by richie_jones
But not in Wales...!!!!!
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 6:42 pm
by mickg
correct its only in England where it applies
Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 11:28 pm
by henpecked
Wales needs improving :laugh:
So any drive with pavers . (good tip for quoting :;): )
Do you reckon you could argue that most of the water would drain into the garden before it reaches the road?
How would they quantify it?
HP
Posted: Tue May 19, 2009 2:00 pm
by Rich H
Or that most of it drains to Wales.
Posted: Fri May 22, 2009 10:58 am
by simeonronacrete
Not sure if you feel you've got your answer? YOu could overlay concrete with Ronadeck Fast Grip:
fast
pretty
and definitely slip resistant (Extremely Low Risk of Slip to UK Slip Resistance Group guidelines)
Read about it here