Changing or installing a new driveway is a fantastic way to make your home smarter or give it a new look. It is also an excellent way to make sure that you have good access to your property.
But before you begin work on your driveway, you need to know about any regulations that you need to observe. Some of these are building regulations. Read on to learn more about building regulations and how they apply to your driveway.
What are building regulations?
Building regulations are a set of design and building specifications that most structures have to meet. These regulations protect the health and safety of everyone in and around these structures. They are also there to make sure that buildings have disabled access and are fairly energy efficient.
Do building regulations apply to driveways?
Usually, building regulations do not apply to driveways. This means that you’re not required to apply for building regulations approval before performing work on your driveway.
However, there are specific access regulations that apply if you want to alter your driveway. These state that whatever changes you make to your driveway, it can’t have an adverse impact on the access to the house it’s connected to. Altering your driveway is only allowed to make building access better or leave it at the same standard it was at before.
What other regulations could apply to my driveway?
There are other regulations that could also apply to your driveway. If it is at the front of your home, you should ensure that your new driveway has adequate drainage. If it is not going to, you should apply for planning permission ahead of starting work. To find out more, take a look at our information on planning permission.
If your home is listed, you should also apply for listed building consent ahead of performing any significant driveway work.
Extra planning regulations might also affect you if your property is in:
- a national park
- an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
- a conservation area
- a World Heritage Site
To find out more, contact your local authority.
So now you should know a lot more about building regulations and how they apply to your driveway. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you should be absolutely confident that you’re abiding by all relevant regulations before you start work. If you’re unsure, speak to your local planning authority. If you’re not sure who they are, you can use the government’s handy online tool to find out.