If you were thinking of paving over your front garden or replacing its existing hard surfacing then you might have to contact your Local Planning Authority. This is to see if you need to get permission to continue, or else you could now be contravening the law.

Earlier this month the Government altered the development rights for domestic front gardens and the law now means that planning permission is required to lay impermeable surfaces, such as concrete, if they allow rainwater to flow onto the public highway from your house.

This new legislation was introduced due to the recognised contribution of surface water run-off entering into the drainage networks from hard standing areas. This has subsequently added to the risk of flooding in our villages and towns in downpours.

However, there are exceptions to these rules. The new planning regulations accept that if a new driveway or parking area is being constructed using porous surfaces, such as permeable concrete block paving, or if the water can soak away on your property, then you will be exempt.

The ruling also only applies if your hard landscaped surface is going to exceed five square metres.

Earlier this year Marshalls, the UK’s foremost hard landscaping manufacturing company, introduced three new permeable paving products into the driveways market, Priora, Tegula Priora and Grassguard. These combine to offer householders 10 colour and texture options and most importantly are produced using the company’s special low carbon production technology which delivers a 39 per cent reduction in the products carbon footprint.

The unique solution is designed to mimic nature as closely as possible, allowing the water to soak in to the ground at source. It also has the proven inherent structural stability to be driven on.

However, the company does recommend the use of skilled and more importantly trained installers of permeable paving to lay it.

These installers make up a national network of recommended professionals and even though they are not employed by Marshalls, they abide by a strict code of practice. They are also all vetted frequently.

Among the businesses who have undergone this training are Barton Block Paving (Maidstone), Isle Landscapers (Maidstone) and Premier Paving Services (Gravesend). Several other business are also undertaking this training. To keep right up to date on which installers have completed this in your area go to www.marshalls.co.uk/transform