Driveway or hard surface in Forest of Dean
Do you need planning permission for a driveway in Forest of Dean? Here is what the permitted development rules say, how Forest of Dean District Council’s designations change them, and what decides an application, grounded in the official guidance and quoted verbatim.

Do you need planning permission for a driveway in Forest of Dean?
Replacing a driveway is permitted development under Class F where the surface is porous, or where rainwater drains to a permeable area within the property rather than to the highway. Whether a driveway needs permission in Forest of Dean still depends on your exact address and the designations on it.
The starting point
Replacing a driveway is permitted development under Class F where the surface is porous, or where rainwater drains to a permeable area within the property rather than to the highway.
“This provides permitted development rights within the curtilage of a house for - (a) the provision of a hard surface for any purpose incidental to the enjoyment of the dwellinghouse as such”PD technical guidance, Class F · full text in the library → · official source →
How Forest of Dean’s designations apply
| Designation in Forest of Dean | Published |
|---|---|
| Conservation areas | 27 |
| Article 4 directions (PD removed) | 2 |
| Listed building outlines | 1,487 |
A non-permeable surface over five square metres draining to the road needs permission; a dropped kerb for vehicle access is a separate highways consent. Counts are read live from planning.data.gov.uk; your report checks them against your exact address.
What Forest of Dean weighs
A non-permeable surface over five square metres draining to the road needs permission; a dropped kerb for vehicle access is a separate highways consent.
Get a planning report for your Forest of Dean address
A Planning Policy report reads the designations on your exact Forest of Dean address, quotes the Forest of Dean District Council and national policies that apply to a driveway, and (on Pro) shows decided applications nearby with outcomes.