Forum Topic

Dropped Kerb / Front Garden Crossover - End of Terrace

Hi, I have 3 questions about: dropping my kerb in LB Ealing; contractors to prepare my front garden; and materials to use.I live in Hanwell and several of my neighbours have recently dropped their kerbs and two houses, including my next-door neighbours', are having their front gardens paved as I type.Having resisted for several years, I think I may now have to do the same thing, otherwise I'll often need to park on another road, which for various reasons, will make life pretty difficult for me.However, I live on the end of a terrace and have a shared drive with an existing dropped kerb at the alley way between the houses.  I've been told that Ealing Council will not allow me to drop the kerb in front of my house because of this shared dropped kerb.  A neighbour tells me that they will allow me to extend the shared dropped kerb by 60cm / 2 feet towards my house, which should be enough to drive onto the front area at an angle.Apparently, this rule was brought in 5-10 years ago to dissuade people from paving over their front gardens.  It certainly hasn't had any effect in my road or the surrounding area!My questions:1.  Does anyone know if there is a way around the rule which prevents me dropping the kerb in front of the house?  Parking is so close that I don't see how I will have sufficient room to drive on to the front at an angle.2.  Does anyone have direct experience or knowledge of any permeable materials which are fairly low maintenance and allow rainwater to soak into the soil, rather than going directly into the sewerage system?3.  Can anyone recommend a builder or contractor who can work with permeable materials and doesn't just want to cover everything with concrete or impermeable membranes?Thanks!

Phil Kay ● 3831d9 Comments

The council has many rules to adhere to and after you have submitted an application they will inspect and say yes or no.Being end of terrace could be a problem as the council has a 10m rule,no part of your dropped kerb can be within 10m of a road junction.Or if your dropped kerb is next to an alley way,where the public have access is also a no no.Flats need planning permission,houses normally do not.I have had numerous applications turned down but won them all on appeal,not just ealing council.I prefer shingle as the top covering material (filled into a honeycombe plastic base) info at ground stabiliser.co.uk.Quiet a lot of soil needs to be removed to get it level.Any competent builder can do this work.Good luck.

Harry Jay ● 3826d

Earlier in the year I was being driven through Brent and was amazed at some of the paving of front gardens. There were sort of marble and granite type pavings.  I would hate to walk on these in the wet let alone on an icy day.  In fact I'd have thought positively lethal.

Philippa Bond ● 3826d

Interesting - btw, how much does Ealing charge for a dropped kerb?

Gerry Tan ● 3826d

I've tried reporting the ones I've come across and they rarely act on the information. At least eight solid concrete slabs have been laid close to my home and no one has done a thing.

Albertina McNeill ● 3827d

Too fragmented. I suppose dealing with the flooding isn't part of their budget so they don't take responsibility.  Time they should.  They should also fine the illegal ones.

Philippa Bond ● 3827d

This might help: https://www.rhs.org.uk/communities/pdf/Greener-Streets/greening-grey-britain-report The borough's planning department will probably tell you that you're obliged to use permeable paving because runoff is an increasing problem. The borough's cabinet member for the environment (if he's honest) will tell you that they make so much money from allowing dropped kerbs and would lose so many votes if they enforced it that they couldn't care less about the environment. I was up to my ankles in water in Oldfield Lane North in August after 55mm of rain fell in an hour.

Albertina McNeill ● 3828d

I have come across the product in my professional capacity (surveyor) and it is well establish sustainable urban drainage.Sorry, I cannot help with recommending surveyors. Perhaps call the manufacturer for approved contractor list.

Paul Martin ● 3828d

Thanks Paul.Have you any first- or second-hand experience of Grass Concrete?  Interesting looking product.I had a look at the "Ealing Service Directory" on this website but the majority of the feedback seems fairly old, perhaps because the software is a bit clunky or because most people now prefer to discuss builders etc on the forum?Thanks again!

Phil Kay ● 3828d

2. grasscretehttp://www.grasscrete.com/3. look at the contractors listed on this website.

Paul Martin ● 3828d