In streets across the UK, lawns and flower beds have gradually given way to paving and parked cars, completely transforming the look of neighbourhoods.
In 1995, the Government gave pavement crossovers (or kerb drops) 'permitted development' status and many front gardens were subsequently paved over. It's now thought that a quarter of all front gardens are paved.
If you live on a street where a residents’ parking permit costs a fortune or where spaces are at a premium, or your household has several cars, you may be considering turning your front garden into a parking space.
Before you order a truckload of tarmac, bear in mind that it is possible to have a welcoming green space and have somewhere to park, too. There are simple ways of combining a garden and parking to create a space that is practical, attractive and environmentally responsible - you just need to plan it carefully.
Six reasons why you should not pave over your front garden
Reduced space for wildlife
Losing the precious pockets of green that front gardens provide significantly reduces the food, habitat and shelter available for wildlife. Paving over a garden means losing precious plants for pollinators and shelter and habitat such as hedges and trees. Making wildlife-friendly choices in the front garden is just as important as it is in the back garden.
Increased risk of flooding
The drains in most urban and suburban areas were built many years ago and were not designed to cope with the increased rainfall that we're now seeing as a result of climate change. The combined effect of many households paving their front gardens with non-porous materials means that rainwater that would have slowly seeped into the soil is now causing excessive run-off into drains, increasing the risk of flooding.
Lower air quality
Paving over front gardens lowers air quality, making city streets hotter at night when the heat absorbed by the paving during the day is released; this is known as the ‘heat island effect’.
Water pollution
Oil, petrol and brake dust from a car collect on impermeable hard surfaces such as concrete and asphalt, which is then washed off into the drains. The gov.uk website states: "Many drains carry rainwater directly to streams or rivers where the pollution damages wildlife and the wider environment. In some areas, rainwater may go into the foul water sewer which normally takes household waste from bathrooms and kitchens to the sewage treatment works. These overflow into streams and rivers in heavy rainfall. As more water runs into foul sewers from paved areas there are more frequent overflows, passing untreated sewage into watercourses."
It could impact your neighbourhood
Paved over front gardens can change the face of a street. And if you're not outside tending your green space from time to time, you're less likely to interact with your neighbours. "Front gardens have the power to make us feel good about where we live," says designer Charlotte Harris.
Reduced wellbeing
A recent research project in collaboration with the University of Sheffield found that green front gardens can reduce both psychological and physiological stress for residents at a level equivalent to the long-term impact of eight weekly mindfulness sessions.
You could need planning permission
Since October 2008, anyone in England who wishes to pave their front garden with impermeable materials over an area of five square metres has to seek planning permission from their local council. Porous materials, and products that allow water to drain through, are exempt from this legislation.
How to combine parking and planting
If you still feel you need to pave over part of your garden, it is possible to do it responsibly. The key is to keep the parking area as small as possible, to include as much planting as you can, and to use permeable paving materials.
Include as much planting as you can
Add trees, shrubs and climbers
A beautiful tree, especially a blossom tree, will light up the whole street. Evergreen shrubs will provide interest and structure all year round. Think about adding a climber against the house.
Swap a fence for a hedge
A hedge is great for wildlife, filters sound and pollution, and looks more attractive than a fence.
Discover 30 of the best plants for a hedge.
Add planting pockets
If you're using gravel, plant into it, or plant between pavers.
Work out how much space is actually needed for parking
A typical parking space is 2.4m by 4.8m (with extra space to allow access to and from the car), so the rest of the area can still be garden. "When planning a parking area, you should take into consideration the number of cars that are likely to be on your drive at any one time. Can you get in and out of the car relatively easily? How big is your car? Once you’ve allowed for all these things, you will have the remaining space in which to plant," says designer James Alexander-Sinclair.
In the garden above, designer Jane Brockbank screened a small car-parking area with a trio of birch trees. They are underplanted with a selection of evergreen ferns including Polystichum setiferum. Closer to the edges, by the paving, evergreen groundcover Pachysandra terminalis is joined by hardy Alchemilla erythropoda and the pure-white, horned pansy Viola cornuta Alba Group.
Jane points out that planting isn’t the only way to hide cars from the the sight lines of the house. In this garden. She spaded and raked new topsoil to different heights, creating undulating landforms close to the front windows of the house. These not only help to block out parked cars but create a feature in their own right.
Consider parking tracks
James Alexander-Sinclair points out: "The amount of ground in contact with a stationary car is not much more than a square foot. The only things touching the ground are the tyres. Admittedly, they have to get from street to parking spot, but that entails just a couple of narrow tracks."
If you only have one car, the most effective way to create parking and use the least amount of paving is to lay two tracks into the garden, positioned under the path of the vehicle’s wheels. The pavers must be suitable for vehicular use, with each track typically 300mm to 600mm in width – the wider the tracks the easier it is to drive on to them. This solution looks extremely effective if the tracks are laid into gravel or a dense matt of low planting. "Low ground cover plants will live happily beneath a parked car – thymes and scrambling herbs won’t mind," says James Alexander-Sinclair. This is especially true if your car is elsewhere during the day.
Choose permeable paving materials
There are many permeable drive-over products available, some of which are listed below. The foundation must be formed of permeable materials too. On a heavy clay soil you may also need to install additional drainage such as a soakaway, because the soil will not drain as well as a more sandy soil.
Gravel
Generally one of the cheapest options, although not a good a good option on a sloping site. Land-based gravel, rather than pea shingle, is larger sized and may be more appropriate, because it is less inclined to scatter. "Gravel is a readily available and is a low-cost permeable paving material," says designer Andrew Wilson. "The base on which it is laid must also be permeable. To prevent excessive movement, pour the gravel into cellular mats. This material also strengthens and consolidates the surface – useful if you are planning to park a car on it."
The beauty of gravel is that you can also plant into it. "One of the best parking areas I ever designed contained only four varieties of plant (Verbascum bombyciferum, Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’, Stipa tenuissima and Verbena bonariensis) placed straight into the gravel outside the house," says designer James Alexander-Sinclair.
Permeable block paving
Permeable bricks or blocks look like traditional block paving, but their interlocking shape ensures rainwater can penetrate the gaps between them. You could leave spaces between them where possible, to allow further avoid water run off - this will also allow you more space for plants. Permeable paving is a more expensive option than gravel.
Porous asphalt or concrete
Porous concrete and asphalt allow water to flow through. These are both made from a mix of large aggregate and fine aggregate, creating gaps that allow water to permeate. Think about the area that you actually need to cover with this - you could create a border or lawn on the area not needed for parking.
Reinforced grass
This is where grass is grown through a plastic honeycomb matrix. It can look effective but good ground preparation is essential and you will need to select a very tough variety of grass.
You need to keep permeable paving clear of fallen leaves, debris or soil to ensure that the water is able to drain away effectively – this is especially important with block paving where the gaps in between the paving stones can become blocked.
Front garden case study
In 2017, the RHS transformed a paved front garden in Greenford, West London into a practical green one, while retaining the space to park two cars.
The planting plan, by Caro Garden Design, featured evergreen plants and seasonal flowers. The garden featured permeable recycled plastic and gravel paving and planted a wildlife-friendly hedge. Read more about the project.