Meeting the latest rules
Changes to planning law for England aim to curb the paving-over of front gardens with impermeable surfaces to make drives and car parking areas. Since the changes, which took effect in October 2008, permitted development rights have been taken away from new or replacement drives or other paving over 5m˛ located between the front of a house and the street unless it is permeable paving or drains water onto a permeable area in the garden.
Similar measures also now apply in Scotland. Here, they apply to any size of drive and between the house and any street – not just front gardens.
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Comprehensive Guidance
Interpave has published a new version of its popular guide: ‘Paving for Rain: responsible rainwater management around the home – guidance for householders’. The first part of the guide explains the rules and how you can make the most of concrete block and flag paving around your home to satisfy them, and still create a beautiful garden using the latest permeable paving products and other techniques.
Then, the second part of the guide gives straightforward design and construction guidance for home-owners, designers and contractors using concrete block permeable paving or conventional precast paving with rain gardens. It is based on design calculations using sound engineering principles (suitable for driveways and car traffic only).