The provision of hardstanding in front gardens requires planning permission where the area of proposed hardstanding measures more than five square metres and where impermeable surfaces such as asphalt are proposed.
Permission is not needed elsewhere around homes unless they are flatted, listed buildings or in a conservation area, in which case different rules may apply.
The soil in most of Norwich is of a type which allows water to soak into the ground easily. In these areas – shown as yellow and green on the drainage map – permeable surfaces are more appropriate. We are not likely to grant planning permission for impermeable surfaces in these areas.
In those areas shown in red on the map, a different type of soil means rain water will not soak easily into the ground and it is more likely we would grant permission for impermeable paving in these areas.
Guidance on permeable surfacing on Gov.uk website.
