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• Guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens

Planning, building and the environment

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Summary

From 1 October 2008, the Government will introduce changes to the General Permitted Development Order, making the hard surfacing of more than five square metres of domestic front gardens permitted development only where the surface in question is rendered permeable. Use of traditional materials, such as impermeable concrete, where there was no facility in place to ensure permeability, requires an application for planning permission.

The purpose of the guidance is to advise householders of the options for achieving permeability and meeting the condition for permitted development status.

This revised edition replaces the version originally published on 10 September 2008.

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• Guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens
  PDF, 727 kb , 28 pages

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Related publications

• Understanding permeable and impermeable surfaces: Technical report on surfacing options and cost benefit analysis

  • Published: 14 September 2009
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment

• Impact Assessment: Permeable Surfaces

  • Published: 7 February 2008
  • Site: Planning, building and the environment