New plans have been announced to charge Londoners for paving over their driveway. Residents could also be offered incentives to remove their existing paving.
That’s according to a new report published in July 2024 by the Mayor of London, which is calling for the de-paving of front gardens which it states is an 'essential' measure for tackling flooding in the city.
While planning permission is already required for laying large quantities of impermeable driveway materials elsewhere in the UK, this latest measure could force London homeowners to ‘green up’ their gardens. Otherwise, they could face so-called ‘stormwater charges’ for using paving which doesn’t allow rainwater to drain through it.
Here is an overview of the report, the potential changes along with some alternatives could be used instead of paving.
Why Is Paving Causing Issues In London?
While concrete paving or porcelain tiles might make for practical and low-maintenance landscaping materials, their impermeable properties are thought to be a huge contributor towards urban flooding, including in cities such as London.
Simply put, when a surface isn’t permeable this means that rainwater is unable to drain into the ground. This results in surface runoff which can soon overwhelm drainage systems, contributing to more flooding.
The amount of excess water created by paving, tarmac or concrete can be as much as 50% according to the RHS. Urging people to keep the use of paving to an absolute minimum, it added that the additional water “usually flows into street drains, which can’t always cope. The excess can then go back up people’s front drives to flood their homes.”
Now the Mayor of London has voiced his concerns in a report, stating that flooding which happened in the city in July 2021 created estimated losses of £100 million.
“Although paving over one or two gardens may not seem to make a difference, the combined effect of lots of people in a street or area doing this can increase the risk of flooding. The harm caused by paving gardens is not limited to just flooding. Hard surfaces such as concrete and asphalt collect pollution (oil, petrol, brake dust etc) that is washed off into the drains. Many drains carry rainwater directly to streams or rivers where the pollution damages wildlife and the wider environment.” - The London Climate Resilience Review
To solve the issue, the idea is to charge homeowners based on the surface area of their land that is impermeable. It is hoped that this would “not only raise much needed revenue to mitigate risks, but also disincentivise paving over gardens and other green spaces”, according to the report.
In 2022, the amount of permeable paving in England stood at 54%, which was down from 63% in 2001. The report also mentions that by 2030, 43% of London homes will have subsidence owing to soil issues.
The report also goes into detail about the record heat waves experienced in 2022 which were caused by “widespread failure of green infrastructure including street trees." There are also now plans to increase the number of trees alongside the aim to remove paving.
What Are Some Greener Alternatives To Paving?
Alongside greening up properties with more grass, trees and similar vegetation, what also needs to change are the surfaces that we walk, drive and park on.
The main issue with paving is that it tends to be classed as impermeable meaning that rainwater cannot be absorbed by the material, and instead is encouraged to run-off.
While the Mayor of London’s report doesn’t specifically state which landscaping materials homeowners would need to opt for instead of paving, materials classed as permeable are likely to be recommended.
That’s because permeable paving is designed specifically to allow rainwater to be filtered into the sub-base instead of being able to run off into the street and public drainage systems. Often, the result is that drains become overwhelmed in heavy rainfall leading to flooding.
Here are some examples to consider for your next outdoor project:
Brick Paving
Unlike block paving which is made of concrete, brick paving is made of clay and coupled with the large spacing in between each paver, this allows for far better rainwater drainage than standard paving. That said, the correct installation techniques are key to ensure good drainage including proper base preparation.
Chippings & Gravel
Both gravel and chippings are known for their excellent drainage qualities, whether used in place of paving or on top of borders. Another benefit of gravel is that it is considered an effective security measure to use around your home, due to the sound made when someone walks on it. Both gravel and chippings are also extremely cost-effective and are easier to install than traditional paving.
Grass Pavers
Grass pavers are made up of a permeable paving grid with space in the middle for grass to grow through. This gives homeowners the best of both worlds, as the structure is more practical than grass would be on its own to park or walk on, yet the design also allows for rainwater to naturally soak into the ground instead of running off into the street.
In many instances, grass pavers also forgo the need to obtain planning permission, especially for front gardens without a lawn or borders to provide the necessary rainwater drainage. While improving drainage is the main aim of grass pavers, they also create an attractive feature in terms of visual aesthetics.
Matrix Pavers
Also known as cellular paving, matrix pavers consist of hexagonal cells that can be filled with aggregate such as gravel. Alongside front gardens, matrix pavers are commonly used for public walkways as well as car parks. Their grid systems make it easy to cover a large surface area of ground, making them less labour-intensive to install than regular paving.
Rainwater Capturing
In the Mayor’s report, a case study of RiverSmart in Washington was also highlighted. Beyond adding permeable paving, the case study offered an alternative solution of diverting rainfall from the street completely. Such measures to achieve this include adding rain barrels, green roofs, rain gardens and planting more trees.
See also: 11 Green Construction & Home Renovation Trends For 2024
Summary
Whether or not financial penalties are the way to go, it is clear that our approach to urban planning and design needs to change due to the impact of climate change. With impermeable paving contributing towards localised flooding in London and beyond, porous landscaping materials that provide rainwater drainage should be a priority for driveways, paths and similar outdoor surfaces.
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