Paving over garden...

[craft1948]

My neighbour has workmen in at the moment who appear to be block-paving a large part of her garden abutting our boundary fence and the workmen do not appear to be constructing any drainage system.
Is it true that you need planning permission for this nowadays.......I have visions of all the water from her garden draining onto mine and flooding it.
My own builder is due to start work shortly trying to improve the drainage in my own garden, partly by taking up existing flagstones and laying turf........the soil round here is clay so drainage is a very bad problem.
I don't want to fall out with the neighbours who are both in their 80's but neither do I want my garden problems exacerbating......any suggestions?

[Teleph0ne]

your neighbour will need to make provisions for their surface water and not discharge it onto your property or the public highway. I would speak to the council about this. They wouldn't definately need planning unless there was a definate change of use as in creating a drive where there was a lawn but just creating a paved area isn't subject to planning. They do have a legal responsibility for their surface water though and councils are taking these issues far more seriously since July 07

[craft1948]

so if they're having block paving that's okay?

[buildersmate]

So act quickly and let them know (if this appears to exceed what they can do without PP), because it's a damn sight easier to stop the job than sort out a retro-putting right after the event. Many people just don't realise the new legislation and contractors just play ignorant - it's not their problem anyway - it's the home-owners.
Take photos tomorrow once you've advised them - to show that the job wasn't finished when you notified them. Also tell the Development Control people at the council
It is exactly this sort of action that causes flooding for others.

[buildersmate]

Sorry - just read more of it.
Block-paving is normally OK because it drains through.

[Teleph0ne]

depends if it is porous paving or not and the size of the area. some block paving has slots in to allow the water to drain and are laid on a fine gravel that leads to a soakaway or drain, this isn't very often used in domestic areas though because it if far more expensive

[craft1948]

right Teleph0ne...........the same workmen did their drive a few weeks ago and all they did was slope it so that water ran off into the lawn........when I had mine done my builder had to dig 2 french drains .and build in drainage gutters...........

[Teleph0ne]

standard block paving is laid on sand and sealed with a kiln dried sand, this is not porous and requires drainage

[craft1948]

that's what I think they're having Teleph0ne as it matches the front drive.......this is what I have but with proper drainage done....

[Teleph0ne]

With block paving, you get what you pay for and everyone is after saving money. If there is no drainage then the water will probably hang round under the paving which will in time start to subside. A saving will usually cost more long term and thats how the cowboys can be cheaper than the craftsmen!

[craft1948]

Thanks guys for all your advice......

[landscaper2]

Basically you must dispose of your surface water within your property and not divert into drains or run-off into the road. All good in theory, but I'd like to see the powers that made these rules try and get water to soak away in our area, which has thick impermeable clay and any hole dug between December and April soon fills with water! Just another annoyance for us landscapers and a smoke screen blaming the public for flooding..........rather like us being blamed for 'global warming' I suppose!

[smurfchops]

Might be a good idea to contact your Local Council and get them to come out and have a look.

[Teleph0ne]

It's not exactly a hardship to connect into surface water drains or dig a soakaway, this should all be taken into account at the pricing stage instead of just pricing for the bare minimum just to appear cheap! Its got nothing to do with blaming global warming, if everyone had taken care of their surface water in July 07 then there wouldn't have been halfthe flooding

[landscaper2]

Diverting surface water into your drains in now considered a 'no, no'. Take a look at this site, some good info http://www.pavingexpert.com/drain14.htm

[craft1948]

To give an indication of the ground around here old plans show it used to be ponds and clay pits.......

[bushbaby_de]

Hang on, hang on... the new planning rules apply to hard paving of FRONT gardens only. I read this as saying the neighbours already did their drive and are now doing their back garden, in which case no planning permission is needed at all regardless of the area of the hard paving or whether it is permeable or not.