Do I Need Planning Permission for a Driveway in Leicester?

For many Leicester homeowners, the answer turns on where the driveway is, how large the new hard surface is and where rainwater will go. Planning permission for the surface and permission to cross the pavement are separate questions. Check both before booking work.

The front garden rule in England

Government guidance says a new or replacement front garden driveway can normally be laid without planning permission if it uses a genuinely permeable surface, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if water is directed to a lawn or border where it can drain naturally. If more than 5 m² is surfaced with a traditional impermeable material without provision for water to run to a permeable area, planning permission is needed. The rule concerns the hard surface and its runoff, not just the product name on an invoice. Government front garden guidance.

For example, a standard tarmac drive that slopes towards the public footway is not made compliant simply by adding a drainage channel with no suitable destination. A permeable resin bound top layer over an impermeable base is not necessarily a permeable driveway either. See our guide to permeable driveways in Leicester for the design questions to ask.

Do I need a dropped kerb as well?

If vehicles will cross a public footway, the vehicle crossing requires separate highway approval. Leicester City Council says it is against the law to drive over the kerb, pavement or verge without a dropped crossing. Its application page lists minimum driveway dimensions of 4 m deep and 2.4 m wide for a standard 3 m crossing, and says the drive should meet the carriageway at 90 degrees. The council also says the crossing contractor must be approved before work starts. Read the current Leicester City Council dropped kerb guidance before drawing up the project.

If your property is outside Leicester City Council’s area, the road authority and planning authority may differ. For example, Leicestershire County Council’s vehicle access guidance covers county highway crossings and directs applicants to the relevant district or borough council about planning. Check your address rather than assuming that a Leicester postal address falls under the city council.

What else should I check?

Leicester City Council advises residents to check local planning restrictions and conditions attached to earlier permissions: these can affect permitted development rights. A listed property, conservation context, changes to boundary features or new access onto a classified road can create further questions. The relevant council can confirm the position for your address. Leicester City Council’s planning check includes its local restrictions map and information about a lawful development certificate.

Before requesting an installation date

Measure the area; sketch the proposed surface and the direction of its falls; identify where rainwater will soak away within the property; and confirm whether you need a new or altered vehicle crossing. Keep the planning and highway correspondence with the driveway quotation. An installer can propose a suitable design, but the homeowner should obtain any formal council decision needed for the property.

Pavemaster’s Leicester driveway team can assess the levels and available surface options during a site visit. For a material comparison, read the best driveway surface for Leicester homes.