Specific rules apply for householders wanting to pave over their front gardens.
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, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally.
It is important to remember about stump removal.
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.
Please note: The permitted development allowances described here apply to houses and not to:
Also note that these rules only cover your front garden. Any other work such as fences, walls and gates or a dropped kerb may require planning permission. There are also different rules for patios and driveways that are not part of a front garden.
Dropping kerbs
If you are making a new access into the garden across the footpath you will need to obtain permission from the local council to drop the kerbs and the pavement may need strengthening. This is to protect any services buried in the ground such as water pipes.