What Is Permeable Surfacing?
Written by James Walker · Last reviewed 16 August 2026
James Walker has 2 degrees in construction (BSc (Hons) Building Surveying · MSc Environmental Design of Buildings) and an extensive background in issue resolution, resolving over £4 billion of consumer issues.
On this page
Permeable surfacing is any hard surface that allows rainwater to pass through it into the ground below, rather than running off into a drain or the road.
Why it matters
A new or replacement front driveway using impermeable surfacing and covering more than 5 square metres requires planning permission, unless water is directed to a permeable area on your own land.
Permeable surfacing avoids the requirement entirely. Since 5 square metres is smaller than almost any usable driveway, this affects most front-of-house paving.
What counts
Gravel, permeable block paving, porous asphalt and resin bound all let water through. Standard block paving, concrete and conventional tarmac do not.
Resin bound is often chosen specifically because it combines a solid, level finish with compliance.
The catch
Permeability at the surface achieves nothing if the layer beneath is sealed. A permeable driveway needs a properly constructed sub-base designed to drain, otherwise water sits between the two.
Ask what sub-base is being laid, not just what the surface is.
How it works
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