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Planning permission

Please note: different rules apply to paving over your front garden1.

Elsewhere around your house there are no restrictions on the area of land which you can cover with hard surfaces at, or near, ground level.

However, significant works of embanking or terracing to support a hard surface might need a planning application.

If you live in a listed building, you will need listed building consent for any significant works whether internal or external.

Please note: The permitted development allowances described here apply to houses and not to:

  • Flats and maisonettes (view our guidance on flats and maisonettes2
  • Converted houses or houses created through the ‘permitted development’ rights for:
  • Other buildings
  • Areas where there may be a planning condition, Article 4 Direction or other restriction that limits permitted development rights.

Also note that these rules only cover your patio/driveway. Any other work such as fences, walls and gates4 or a dropped kerb may require planning permission.

Electric vehicle charging outlets 

For information about the installation of an outlet for charging an electric car on domestic property, please see the details in the common project for electric vehicle charging points5.

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.

Things to consider

You may find it helpful to use the following third-party commercial service to plan your home improvement project:

This link will take you to information about their services.

  1. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/home-improvement/planning-consultancy-calculator

Find a Trade Professional

Use our partner directories from CIAT, FMB or RTPI to find an chartered architectural technologist, builder or planning consultant to help with your project or development.

Find a professional


Useful links

Make an application Studio Charrette planning consultancy calculator
    1. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/paving-your-front-garden
    2. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/flats-and-maisonettes/introduction
    3. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/change-of-use/use-classes
    4. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/fences-gates-and-garden-walls
    5. https://www.planningportal.co.uk/permission/common-projects/electric-vehicle-charging/electric-vehicle-chargers

    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.

    The Planning Portal is delivered by PortalPlanQuest Limited which is a joint venture between TerraQuest Solutions Limited and the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government (MHCLG). All content © 2024 Planning Portal.