permeable driveway requirements

[jimtg_90]

Hi,

I am looking for some advice on making sure my driveway conforms to the requirements for permeable surfacing (https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7728/pavingfrontgardens.pdf).

The front garden is approximately 7.3m wide by 4.5-5m deep, pretty much level and currently mainly overgrown with grass/weeds. I was initially thinking of block paving the whole thing with something like Marshalls Tegula as one of the houses down the road has done this and it looks good + provides space for 2 cars. However, I assume theirs was done before the 2008 permeability rules. It looks like now if I wanted to do the same thing I would have to use permeable blocks (not too much of a problem) and a permeable sub base … the permeable sub base (4/20 or DTP 3) seems to be more of a problem as it doesn’t seem to be available in small enough quantities + I’m not sure how easy it is to install correctly (harder to compact)??

The other idea was to gravel over most of the driveway, apart from a path to the front door and a couple of planting areas, with space for just one car (as in the picture below). However, it looks like even with gravel you are meant to use the permeable sub base now, is that right??

If this is the case – how can I get hold of the permeable sub base in small enough quantities? Or what other drainage options do I have? Soakaways are also suggested but these have to be a minimum of 5m away from the house and, as I mentioned, the drive is only 5m deep at its deepest. Could I just slope the sub-base towards the planting area at the front?

Any advice would be great

Thanks in advance

Untitled

• jimtg_90
• 1 Feb 2015
• 2

 

[LukeB123]

I think technically you would need a sub base even with loose gravel as a finish. You seem quite keen to do this by the book (!) do you think you are going to have problems with the council / neighbours when laying this? Enough for a council official to come and remove some of your top layer of gravel and see if you have a sufficient under layer??

The general "test" would be throw a bucket of water over there, and as long as it seems to drain, and not cause puddling anywhere after 5 mins or so, your fine.

Also sloping the sub base to a planting area should be fine as it should naturally drain there.

 

[jeds]

In practice nobody will be bothered unless surface water runs off your driveway onto neighbouring land or the road/pavement. Although type 1 is not technically permeable we have many times used type 1 (not heavily rolled) with grip grid over and loose Cerney stone. This gives a good solid base, is easy to do, looks ok and is not expensive.

e.g. www.cellgraveldriveways.co.uk

 

[jimtg_90]

I hadn’t really thought about whether it would actually be enforced – no reason to think there will be any problems with the council/neighbours. The only thing I guess would be if it would be highlighted as an issue if/when we were to move house.

In practice nobody will be bothered unless surface water runs off your driveway onto neighbouring land or the road/pavement.

If I did use type 1 sub base and paved the whole area the only option I could think of really would be to slope it towards the road or is there something else I haven’t thought of that would allow me to pave the whole area?

Otherwise I guess it will be easiest to put in a planting area and slope towards this