OXFORD City Council is finding it “very difficult” to regulate build-your-own driveways that result in cars being partly parked across pavements.

The matter was raised by councillor Katherine Miles this week who was told that converting front gardens into driveways is allowed under permitted development rights – work that does not require planning permission from the council.

Her request for information over breaches of planning policy in relation to these returned just five investigations over the past two years, three of which had been dismissed.

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The other two were described as “ongoing”.

A written response from councillor Alex Hollingsworth, the city’s cabinet member for planning and housing delivery, highlighted that there are “conditions attached to the permitted development rules which need to be adhered to, and the council can and will investigate if it appears that these have not been followed”.

Oxford Mail: Councillor Alex Hollingsworth Councillor Alex Hollingsworth

Ms Miles responded: “This is an issue in my ward, cars are overhanging onto the pavement because people have paved over their front gardens.

“I understand this is permitted development and therefore allowed, you mention there can be conditions attached to permitted development and sometimes there are breaches in that.

"Can you give an example of what conditions can be attached or the kind of breaches that allow the council to take action?”

Mr Hollingsworth replied: “It is about permeability, not size, unfortunately.

“The requirement is that if you do choose to pave over your front garden, you need to do it in a permeable way.”

 

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This story was written by Matthew Norman, he joined the team in 2022 as a Facebook community reporter.

Matthew covers Bicester and focuses on finding stories from diverse communities.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Matthew.norman@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter: @OxMailMattN1