What are the Rules for a New Driveway?

Are you considering a new driveway for your Home? There is much to consider such as the design and choice of materials etc. However you also need to ask yourself…What are the rules for a new driveway? When you outsource the project to a reputable established driveway specialist such as ourselves here at Ideal Building and Landscapes, you can relax knowing that we are on hand to check all of the details and make sure that your driveway is fully compliant.

In England, the rules for laying a driveway are primarily determined by the local council. However, there are some general guidelines that must be followed:

• Planning permission may be required if the driveway is to be constructed on land that is in a conservation area or if the house is a listed building.
• The driveway must not be constructed on a public footpath or highway.
• Drainage must be considered, and any surface water must be directed away from the house and not allowed to pool on the driveway.
• It is recommended that the driveway should be constructed with a permeable surface, such as permeable block paving, to allow water to drain away naturally.

Suds stands for Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems. It is a method of managing and treating surface water in urban areas to reduce the risk of flooding and protect water quality. When it comes to driveways, SUDS can be incorporated in the design and construction of the driveway to manage and treat surface water in an environmentally friendly way.

There are several ways in which SUDS can be incorporated into a driveway:

1. Permeable paving: This type of paving allows water to pass through the surface and into the ground, reducing the amount of surface water runoff.
2. Rain gardens: These are shallow depressions in the ground that are planted with vegetation and designed to capture and store surface water, allowing it to be absorbed into the ground.
3. Green roofs: A green roof is a vegetated layer on top of a building or driveway that helps to slow down and filter surface water runoff.
4. Rainwater harvesting: This is the collection and storage of rainwater for later use, such as watering the garden or flushing toilets.

By incorporating SUDS into the design and construction of a driveway, the risk of flooding can be reduced and water quality can be protected.

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• If the driveway is to be constructed with a hard surface, such as concrete or tarmac, planning permission may be required if it will result in the loss of more than 5 square meters of habitat for nesting birds or bats.
• It is the responsibility of the homeowner to ensure that the driveway is safe to use, and that any necessary repairs or maintenance are carried out.
• Local authorities have the power to serve notice requiring the removal or alteration of a driveway if it is deemed to be dangerous or obstructive.

We hope you enjoyed our article covering “What are the rules for a new driveway?” Are you looking for a new driveway in Dickens Heath, Solihull, South Birmingham, Redditch or beyond? We are proud to be Which? Trusted Traders and a member of the No Rogue Trader Scheme backed by Trading Standards. We are a local based family business based in Hollywood, Wythall and have over 30 years combined experience. We cover Solihull, Wythall, Birmingham, Leamington Spa, Redditch and Bromsgrove.

For a free quotation and design visit please get in touch with us here or call us on 01564 490121. All of our work is insured and fully guaranteed. You can read many happy reviews here in our latest news section.