The London Assembly today called on the Mayor and the Government to review the permeable ‘solutions’ element of the permitted development regulations.
The Assembly agreed a motion asking that consideration be given to promoting lawns, flower beds, rain gardens and other vegetation over paving.
Jenny Jones AM, who proposed the motion said:
“The character of our streets and front gardens is rapidly changing as lawns and flower beds are replaced by driveways and paving.
Front garden rules are clearly not fit for purpose and are contributing to our flood risk and the elimination of wildlife habitat. The rules need to give priority to greenery and vegetation over paving, asphalt, concrete or any other hard permeable option.”
The full text of the Motion is:
This Assembly recognises the important contribution that London’s front garden plant cover provides for flood protection, wildlife habitats, shade and cooling during heatwaves[2], the alleviation of air pollution, the character and identity of our streets, and for our wellbeing.
However, the Assembly is concerned by the findings in the Royal Horticultural Society report ‘Green Grey Britain’[3] that half of all London’s front gardens are now paved over, marking a 36% increase in the past ten years, with five times as many front gardens with no plants compared to ten years ago. We are also concerned with the use of narrow grilles which allow driveways to be covered with impermeable surfaces, putting further pressure on the drainage system[4].
This Assembly therefore calls on the Mayor and the Government to review the permeable ‘solutions’ element of the permitted development regulations, including the use of grilles, and to consider promoting lawns, flower beds, rain gardens and other vegetation over other permeable options such as permeable block paving, porous asphalt or concrete.
Notes to editors
- The motion was agreed unanimously.
- http://www.wildlondon.org.uk/sites/default/files/files/London%20Garden%20City%20-%20full%20report.pdf
- https://www.rhs.org.uk/communities/pdf/Greener-Streets/greening-grey-britain-report
- In https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/7728/pavingfrontgardens.pdf
- Watch the full webcast.
- Jenny Jones AM who proposed the motion is available for interviews. Please see contact details below.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For media enquiries, please contact Mary Dolan on 020 7983 4603. For out of hours media enquiries, call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the London Assembly duty press officer. Non-media enquiries should be directed to the Public Liaison Unit on 020 7983 4100.