To think that if you pave over your front garden so you can park your cars

[Bekindtoyourknees]

You can't complain about being flooded?

And also you could have the presence of mind to realise that you have directly contributed to your neighbours homes being flooded.

Don't totally disagree, I've got to say. But I think what's needed is stricter rules about paving over land, because while it's legal, people are going to do it.

You need planning permission unless you use water permeable materials that allow the water to drain away into the ground.

I thought you had to have planning permission these days. We had to have the drive on a slight slope with drainage at the end feeding into a soak-away.

But obviously planning permission is being granted, that's the point. It's not seen as something that should be strictly regulated.

Our drive was paved when we bought it, do I get to complain?

Very stupid, either organise the run off to go into a water holding tank, to use as grey water, or use paving that allows the water to soak through.

You need planning permission now for over 2 square metres of concrete or DPM base paving.

We paved ours, but we used porous blocks over packed sand and hardcore. There's a bit of cement, and the paver was very careful to make sure it was under the limit as our LA refuses domestic concrete except for wheelchair ramps.

I would say that the house, road and pavement take up more space than the parking and so it's not just the parking, but all the building together for responsible for water not having land to drain into.

I thought these days you had to use special porous paving to get the pp for the dropped kerb for exactly this reason?

I think it is generally legal to pave over a garden. The illegal bit is if someone drives over a kerb or pavement in order to access the "parking area"

I think if councils are going to take action, it needs to be consistent and fair. I read on here that some local councils will deliberately put a bollard or post in front of an illegally created "drive" Where I live there are loads of "drives" which people access by driving across the pavement (often at speed)

No action is taken afaik in the city I live in. Also many of the residents with these so called drives become aggressive and confrontational if someone parks and blocks their access. (even if the person parked inadvertently, not realising)

There is not just the drainage issue, apparently pavements are not designed to take the weight of cars/vans.

We had ours paved about 15 years ago (2 car area) and had a drain built in .

I thought this was one of those "if you have your garden paved then is it unreasonable if someone parks across it? "

Answer is "Yes it's unreasonable but entirely legal if not blocking in"

You even need planning for decking.

I didn't know you needed planning for decking. (not that I am planning to get any). Does this apply to back gardens too? Genuine questions, I guess you are more likely to get "caught" by doing decking/paving out the front.

Block pavers are designed to let water drain through so that isn't really a problem.

On the other hand you could say the amount of green space being lost and the manufacturer of concrete is adding to global warming which is causing freak weather.

It's a drop in the ocean compared to all the other causes of climate change. No pun intended!

You are allowed to drive over the pavement to get onto your driveway lollipop.

I thought you weren't WooWooOwl, I thought that is why you are supposed to have a dropped kerb. (which isn't always permitted, for lots of reasons.)

I have no idea if the neighbours have 'porous' paving, or if they even applied for Planning Permission. My road is unusual in that it is single track with no pavements or kerbs, so need for dropped kerbing.

The previous owners of this house paved the entire front garden, not just the driveway. (The house was built with a garage, so always had a driveway). It looks pretty terrible.

At some point we're going to pull some up and lay some turf/make flower beds. I want to get that plastic stuff that you grow grass through so you can have a grassy driveway all over, except for a small path to the door. DH isn't keen on that idea though.

Greenfir not all block pavers are permeable.

We have a parking problem where we live so the answer is to get the cars off the road by increasing parking space in the front garden.

I agree that there should be more thought into the flooding implications.

I would add that Noah's ark would have to float by before we get flooded.

Cement manufacture is responsible for 10% of CO2 emissions, I have read. Because it's made by burning rocks. So restoration beats new build, futures-wise.

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And don't forget to get the kerbs dropped or people can keep on parking in front of your 'drive'.