Planning Permission: Do You Need it For Your Driveway?

Your driveway is one of the first things guests will see when they visit your property. It’s also most likely to be the main access to your home. So it’s a good idea to keep your driveway looking nice and functioning well.

But if you want to change your driveway, or put in a completely new one, there are several restrictions in place. One of these is planning permission. Keep reading to learn more about planning permission and whether you should have it for your driveway.

What is planning permission?

Planning permission is something you may have to get ahead of carrying out various forms of construction work. To get planning permission you should make an application to your local planning authority.

As soon as your local planning authority has received your application, they will decide whether the work you want to do needs planning permission. If you do require planning permission, your local authority will use regional and national legislation to make a decision on whether to give it to you. Whether or not you get permission will depend on the size and appearance of whatever you are preparing to build, its access, use and whether it will have an effect on neighbouring residents.

Do I require planning permission for a new driveway?

You can lay or change a driveway without applying for planning permission. But you have to comply with particular regulations based on where your driveway is or will be.

Driveways at the front of your house

Planning rules say that driveways at the front of properties have to have sufficient drainage. To comply with this, you can surface your driveway with a permeable material. Permeable materials will let water soak through them into the ground. Alternatively, you can design your driveway so that any water will run off it into a lawn or border.

Driveways in other locations

If you are installing or changing a driveway anywhere other than at the front of your house, you do not need planning permission as long as it’s at, or near, ground level. If you want to create a significantly raised driveway, you should talk to your local planning authority ahead of starting work.

So you will need to apply for planning permission if your planned driveway is at the front of your property and will not have sufficient drainage, or will be considerably raised from the ground.

If your driveway is attached to a listed building, or on designated land, you should talk to your local planning authority before going ahead. You ought to do this even if you don’t think you require planning permission.

You must also get in touch with your local planning authority if your new driveway will involve dropping a kerb.

It’s worth noting that these planning regulations apply to driveways attached to houses. For details on planning permission guidelines for driveways attached to flats, you should talk to your local planning authority.

How do I apply for planning permission?

If you need to apply for planning permission, you can apply online through your local authority’s website.

If you are unsure whether or not you need planning permission, you can get in touch with your local planning authority for advice. To find out who your local planning authority is, and their contact information, you can use the government’s handy online tool.

So you should now be clearer on planning regulations and whether you’ll need to apply for planning permission prior to installing or changing your driveway. If you are looking for a contractor to do some work on your driveway, fill in our online form and we’ll connect you with up to 4 local tradespeople.

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