The 2008 Rule Change
Before October 2008, paving a front garden for car parking was generally permitted development regardless of the material used. The rules changed following concerns about surface water flooding caused by hard impermeable surfaces replacing gardens across urban areas.
Since then, the need for planning permission for front garden paving depends on whether the surface is permeable.
When No Planning Permission Is Required
You do not need planning permission to pave your front garden if:
- The area to be paved is less than 5 square metres, regardless of material
- The surface used is permeable — water drains through or around the surface rather than running off into the drainage system
- The area drains to a lawn or border that can absorb the water
Permeable surfaces include:
- Gravel (loose)
- Permeable block paving (with gaps between units)
- Resin-bound gravel (open-texture, fully permeable)
- Porous asphalt or concrete
When Planning Permission IS Required
Planning permission is required for:
- Any hard impermeable surface (standard concrete, standard block paving laid tight, tarmac) over 5 square metres in a front garden
In practice, most standard driveways over 5 sqm need either planning permission or a permeable surface.
Conservation Areas and Listed Buildings
Additional restrictions apply in Conservation Areas. Contact your local planning authority before paving any part of a front garden — including small areas — if your property is in a Conservation Area or is listed.
The Dropped Kerb (Vehicle Crossover)
A driveway is only useful if you can get a car off the road onto it. This requires a dropped kerb (also called a vehicle crossover) — a lowered section of kerb and strengthened footway to allow vehicles to cross the pavement.
Dropped kerb installation requires separate permission from the local highway authority (not the planning authority). In London, this means the relevant borough council highways department.
Key points about dropped kerb applications:
- You must apply before the work is done — installing an unofficial dropped kerb is an offence
- The council approves the design and an approved contractor carries out the work
- Typical waiting time is 8–16 weeks
- Costs vary by borough — typically £1,000–£2,500 for the highway authority's approved contractor to carry out the physical works
- You may need to arrange for a vehicle crossover at the same time as the driveway is constructed
Road Markings and Parking Restrictions
If there are yellow lines on the road in front of your property, a dropped kerb and driveway does not guarantee the right to park. You should check with the borough's parking team whether the restrictions affect your ability to use the driveway at all times.
Building Over a Sewer
If your proposed driveway or hardstanding covers a public sewer, you may need sewer build-over consent from Thames Water (or the relevant water company). Check the location of public sewers using the Thames Water asset map or a drainage search.
Typical Cost of a Residential Driveway in London
| Surface | Approximate Cost (30 sqm) |
|---|---|
| Tarmac (standard) | £2,500–£5,000 |
| Block paving (concrete blocks) | £4,000–£8,000 |
| Resin-bound gravel | £5,000–£10,000 |
| Natural stone (porcelain or granite setts) | £7,000–£15,000+ |
These costs exclude dropped kerb work and assume straightforward access.
RCB Design & Build
RCB manages driveway and hardstanding projects as part of wider external works packages — including permeable surface specification, drainage design, dropped kerb coordination, and sewer build-over checks where required.