Field guide
Driveway Quote Checklist
Print a practical driveway quote checklist. Compare excavation, sub-base, drainage, edging, waste, VAT and exclusions before choosing a contractor.
Read articleDrainage · Specialist guide
Driveway Drainage Rules in Surrey
Planning and drainage go together
For front gardens, whether you need planning permission can depend on whether water drains to a lawn or border on your property, or the surface lets water through. The design must also protect your home and the road.
Measure all the water that arrives
Your drive may take water from paths, roofs, next door or a slope above. Look at the whole area that drains onto it, not just the new paving.
Door levels set the limits
Garage and front door thresholds, the damp-proof course and the pavement edge decide how much slope you have. Channels only work if they have an outlet, enough capacity and can be cleaned.
Permeable paving needs the right base
Wider joints over a solid base do not make paving permeable. The base layer, bedding, edging and ground below must all let water through.
Do not assume a soakaway will work
The position, how fast the ground drains, groundwater and space all need checking. If the ground will not take water, you may need a storage tank or another approved route.
Keep rainwater on your property
Finished levels should stop water running onto the pavement, road or next door. Check this at design stage and again before the final surface goes down.
Before a site visit
Make the survey useful
Five things that let a contractor give you a clearer answer on the first visit, and a more accurate price after it.
Build a site brief- Property postcode
- Photos during the problem
- Approximate measurements
- Access width and route
- Drawings or drain records
Official sources
Check the official guidance
Rules change. Before you decide, check what applies to your property with the source named here, your local council or Building Control.
Found this useful? Send it to whoever is planning the work with you.
Driveway Drainage Rules in Surrey
Questions about driveway drainage rules
Straight answers before you commit. If yours is not here, ask us directly.
01Do I need planning permission for a new driveway?
It depends on the size, where the water drains and any other limits. The Planning Portal and your local council set out the rules.
02Can a channel drain empty onto the road?
No. A channel only collects water. It needs a proper, legal outlet. Sending water onto the road is not an acceptable plan.
03Does a resin-bound surface always let water through?
Only if the whole build-up lets water through and deals with it. A permeable-looking surface on a solid or unsuitable base may not drain.
Your own site
Turn the guide into a plan for your property
Use the guide to work out your first questions. Then check them against your own ground, levels, access and drainage.
Related services
Plan with numbers
Field guide
Field guide
New Driveway Costs in 2026
Compare 2026 driveway prices per m² and 50 m² examples for gravel, tarmac, paving and resin. Check groundworks, drainage, VAT and quote…
Read article Specialist guide
Commercial Car Park Resurfacing Guide
How surveys, drainage, patch repairs, tarmac choice, phasing and line marking shape a long-lasting car park resurfacing job.
Read guide
Field guide
10 Common Driveway Drainage Problems and Fixes
Identify ten common driveway drainage problems, their likely causes and practical fixes before water damages paving, edges or nearby structures.
Read article Field guide
Block Paving vs Resin Driveways – Which Is Better?
Compare block paving and resin driveways for appearance, drainage, maintenance, repair, preparation and long-term value in Surrey.
Read article
Field guide
How to Fix a Sunken Driveway
Learn why driveways sink, how to distinguish a local surface defect from a failed base and what a durable repair may need…
Read articleThe next useful step
Get advice for your own site
Share what you have: photos, drawings and rough sizes. We will explain what should be surveyed, designed or approved before work begins.