Building Regulations

Local planning departments now say a new driveway or patio area does not require building regulations approval, however, you will need to make sure that any changes undertaken do not make access to the property less satisfactory than it was before. Therefore changing levels to introduce steps where there were none before would be a contravention of the regulations. Elsewhere around your house there are not any restrictions on the amount of land which you can cover with hard surfaces or patios at ground level. However, significant amounts of terracing to support a hard surface might need a planning application and if your property is a listed building, you will need listed building consent for any significant works whether internal or external.

You're planning a smart new patio and have thought about using natural stone rather than imitation concrete paving, even though you know it will probably cost more, it will weather better and will last for longer. Have you thought about it from an ethical point of view?, well it will depends on where the paving stones come from, how they were sourced and how they were delivered to you. Indian sandstone is one of the cheapest on the market however it is likely it has been quarried by children as young as ten and those children, who can make up as much as a quarter of workers, wield sledge hammers and operate jack hammers without any shoes, or protective clothing. For a totally ethical and professional Patio in Bordon , call Peter Beasley.

« Back to all news