Minor applications and householder development
Minor development can also cumulatively affect flood risk.
This is because it increases demand on the capacity of surface water sewers but often the water company will not increase the sewer's capacity. Small scale development can and should contribute to reducing flood risk by ensuring all hard surfacing is made permeable.
All minor development should include plans showing down pipes are connected to soakaways or other methods of control and not the sewer.
Requirements for front gardens
If it's completely hard surfaced, paving your front garden is not permitted development. For more guidance on how to comply with requirements:
- The Royal Horticultural Society has a section on front gardens.
- The council has produced a leaflet on paving front gardens.