Driveway extensions and widening

In England, a new or replaced hard surface of more than 5 m² in a front garden is permitted development only if it is porous, or if rainwater drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property. A fully permeable resin bound build, with a porous base under it, meets that test.

Permitted development rights apply to houses, not flats or maisonettes, and some conservation areas have Article 4 directions that remove them. Listed buildings can need consent if railings or historic walls are affected.

If cars will cross the pavement in a new place, or the crossing needs widening, consent is needed from your council as local highway authority before any kerb work.

Wales has its own permitted development rules on the same principle: a front-garden hard surface should be porous or drain to a permeable area on the property. A fully permeable resin bound build, with a porous base under it, meets that test.

In Wales, new construction with drainage implications covering 100 m² or more can also need approval from the council's SuDS Approving Body (SAB). Most domestic drives are smaller than that, but larger drives and extensions are checked at survey.

If cars will cross the pavement in a new place, or the crossing needs widening, consent is needed from your council as local highway authority before any kerb work.

Scotland's householder permitted development rules allow many hard surfaces at a house where the surface is porous or water drains to a permeable area within the property. A fully permeable resin bound build, with a porous base under it, meets that test.

Flats, listed buildings and conservation areas are treated differently, so if any of those apply we suggest a quick check with your council's planning team before work starts.

If cars will cross the pavement in a new place, or the crossing needs widening, consent is needed from your council as roads authority before any kerb work.

Northern Ireland has its own permitted development order for houses, with conditions on hard surfaces and drainage: the simplest route is a surface that keeps rainwater within your boundary. A fully permeable resin bound build, with a porous base under it, meets that test.

Flats, listed buildings and conservation areas are treated differently, so if any of those apply it is worth checking with your council's planning team before work starts.

If cars will cross the pavement in a new place, or the crossing needs widening, consent is needed from DfI Roads before any kerb work.