A Quick Start Guide to
Cellular Porous Paving
1. What is porous paving?
Porous paving is an alternative to impermeable paving. Unlike impermeable paving, porous paving allows surface water to permeate through the paving, to help prevent flooding caused by surface water run-off.
2. Planning permission advantages
As a direct result of the devastating floods the UK experienced in the summer of 2007 planning regulations relating to driveways have been designed to address the problems of flooding from surface water run-off.
So, if you are laying a driveway or parking area of over 5 square metres with an impermeable surface, you will need planning permission, even if this is a replacement for an exisiting impermeable surface. However, new areas will not require planning permission if a porous paving is used.
3. Attractive alternative paving surface
Porous paving can be filled with either gravel or grass to provide a naturally attractive and durable surfacing solution.
4. Sustainable drainage solution
Porous paving complies with all the requirements imposed for installing a sustainable urban drainage system (SUDS).
Some porous paving systems can be laid directly over an existing grassed surface, without the need for a sub base, as reinforcement for grass verges and other existing turfed areas