Over the last 20 years there has been an increase in the number of gardens that is being paved over to create driveways, to house our larger and increasing number of cars. A report published last year by the RAC Foundation[1] highlighted this increase estimating that roughly 30% of front gardens have been converted to hard standing driveways, with the biggest loss in London, which sees a loss of of 3,000 ha of greenery each year, that’s the size of 2 and a half Hyde parks!! Your driveway or garden may not seem like a big plot of land, but it all adds up.
You may ask what is wrong with paving over your front garden;
1. Increased Flood Risk:
You’re are dramatically increasing the flood risk in your area if you pave your driveway, as water can’t permeate through the ground, so instead runs off reaching the main drainage system faster along with every other homes run off, the likelihood of flooding in your area.
2. Loss of Habitat
By removing greenery, you remove habitat and food sources for insects, birds and other wildlife. This over time reduces the diversity and habitat in the area leading to a loss of species.
3. Visual Pollution
By removing the greenery around the front of your home, you are adding to creating the concrete jungle feeling, as well as adding to increased urban temperatures in the summer as the black tarmac absorbs more heat than the pre-existing green shrubs.
So if you are thinking of replacing your driveway this summer bear in mind the following:
Planning Restrictions.
There are strict planning restrictions that must be adhered to by many local councils, planning must be sought if you are laying over 5m2 of impermeable driveway[2], though not when replacing your drive with a permeable surface for example gravel.
Drainage channels and soak ways are also encouraged, to slow down the run off times of the water, reducing flood risk.
All planning guidance can be found at
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/permission/commonprojects/pavingfrontgarden/
A Call for a Polluter Pays Tax
There have been discussions on charging households with hard standings to pay a tax. This ‘polluter pays’ tax could be imposed to help reduce the burden on society caused by the paving of a private driveway. The tax would internalise the extra costs of responding and dealing with increased flooding or flood risk, set at different levels for the country, the tax would discourage hard paving and encourage the use of more sustainable types of gravel or permeable surface.[3][4]
So overall the best option, if you are converting your front garden or relaying your drive this summer is to pick a permeable and sustainable material, to improve both the visual look of your front garden and to improve your homes environmental footprint. Energy Saving Warehouse offers a number of other ways to reduce your overall impact on the environment.
If the above isn’t feasible, invest in some potted plants which can attract bees and local wildlife, as well as improving the look of your front driveway.
If you are interested other simple ways to reduce your environmental impact why not take a look at Energy Saving Warehouse’s range of products to help you along your way?
For further reading see:
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2012/jul/18/front-gardens-paved-parking-spaces
http://www.wildlifetrusts.org/news/2011/06/17/new-report-reveals-scale-london%E2%80%99s-garden-loss
