Guidance

Permeable surfacing of front gardens: guidance

This guidance explains the different approaches to constructing a driveway or other paved area that controls and reduces rainfall runoff into drains by using permeable surfaces or soakaways and rain gardens.

Documents

Guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens

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Details

From 1 October 2008, the government will introduce changes to the General Permitted Development Order, making the hard surfacing of more than 5 square metres of domestic front gardens permitted development only where the surface in question is rendered permeable.

Use of traditional materials, such as impermeable concrete, where there was no facility in place to ensure permeability, requires an application for planning permission.

The purpose of the guidance is to advise householders of the options for achieving permeability and meeting the condition for permitted development status.

This revised edition replaces the version originally published on 10 September 2008.

Published 13 May 2009