Driveway installation in Buntingford

What is Buntingford like?

Buntingford is a small market town in the north of East Herts, on the line of the old Roman road, Ermine Street. Its long High Street has older houses, shops and former inns close to the pavement, and the centre is a conservation area. Around the town, new estates have been built over recent years, and beyond them lie farmland, hamlets and villages reached by narrow lanes.

Can I have a drive on the High Street?

It is difficult. Many properties front straight onto the street, and side access or rear yards, where they exist, can be tight. Listed buildings and the conservation area mean that changes to walls, gates and the look of the frontage should be discussed with East Herts District Council first. A traditional surface, such as setts or a bound gravel, is often the better fit.

What about the newer estates?

Most new houses here come with a drive already. The usual questions are about adding a space, widening for a second car, or replacing the original surface. Before work starts, check:

• whether the estate roads have been adopted by Hertfordshire County Council
• whether the estate's planning permission limits permitted development
• whether your deeds include covenants about front gardens or parking
• how the developer's drainage handles rainwater from your plot

What about homes in the countryside?

Out of town, drives tend to be longer, sometimes shared, and often finished in gravel or tarmac. A long drive across open ground needs a solid base, edging and somewhere for rainwater to go, especially where it slopes towards the lane. A hard apron at the entrance keeps loose stone off the road. Lanes often have verges and ditches alongside, and a verge can be part of the highway even when it looks like part of the garden, so a new or wider entrance may need the county council's approval.

Some houses on A and B roads may also need planning permission for a new access, so it is worth checking before a design is drawn up. Where a new kerb would open onto a road with a limit above 40 mph, Hertfordshire also asks for room to turn round on the property, so that cars do not reverse out.

Are there trees to watch for?

Hedgerow trees and old garden trees are common around the town. Protected trees, and trees in the conservation area, need the council's involvement before work that could harm them.

How does an enquiry from Buntingford work?

Complete one form. With your consent, it is passed to one local driveway installer who covers your postcode. If there is nobody, we tell you, and your details are not passed on.