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Can I pave my front garden to use as a driveway?
You will not need planning permission if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses permeable (or porous) surfacing which allows water to drain through, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally.
If the surface to be covered is more than five square metres planning permission will be needed for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not provide for the water to run to a permeable area.
This guidance applies to houses, there are different rules for flats and maisonettes, converted houses, new houses or areas where there permitted development rights may be restricted.
Read about paving your front garden
You may need to consider if a dropped kerb is required, largely dropped kerbs are not a planning matter but you will need to apply to your local council.
Find out more about dropped kerbs
Common Questions
A wall is a 'party wall' if it stands astride the boundary of land belonging to two (or more) different owners, for example the wall separating two semi-detached properties.
Some kinds of work carried out to a property may not be controlled by the building regulations, but may be work which is covered by the Party Wall etc. Act 1996. This is a separate piece of legislation with different requirements to the building regulations.
To find out more about party walls, visit Planning Portal.
Verandas will often require planning permission as they do not fall under permitted development rights. If the veranda is raised over 0.3 metres, covers more than 50% of the land around your house, is on the principal elevation or on a roof then it will need planning permission.
You may require additional consents if you live in a Conservation Area or listed building. If you are unsure, you should contact your local planning authority.
For more information about planning permission for verandas and balconies, read our common project.
Whether you need building regulations approval depends on the type of underfloor heating (UFH) you are installing.
Electric UFH must comply with Part P for electrical safety.This work can be done by a member of the competent persons scheme who can self-certify the work.
Wet UFH must comply with Part L which focuses on the conservation of fuel and power. This will likely require building control approval.
You typically will not need planning permission to install a hot tub in your garden, as it is classed as an outbuilding and within the permitted development rights in terms of size and portability. However, you may need planning permission if you live in a listed building or conservation area, you should check first with your local authority.
The hot tub will need to adhere to the building regulations in terms of safe and adequate electrical installation by a registered competent person. Find out more about using a registered competent person.
Also, if the hot tub is placed within a building such as a large shed-style structure, there will be separate planning and building control limitations on that structure.
Many trees are protected by Tree Preservation Orders (TPO) which means that, in general, you need the council's consent to prune or fell them.
A TPO is placed on a tree, group of trees or woodland with the aim of protecting them. The following is prohibited on a protected tree, without the local planning authority's (LPA) consent:
- Felling
- Topping
- Lopping
- Uprooting
- Wilful damage/destruction
Owners of the trees must maintain their trees, and an LPA will often encourage good tree management. However, they are unable to require maintenance work just because a tree falls under a TPO.
If you wish to complete work on a tree under a TPO you will be required to submit an application to the local planning authority. For full details on this application type, read guidance about works to trees and the application process.
