Planning permission for a driveway in Scotland

When is a driveway permitted development in Scotland?

A driveway is normally permitted development when the surface is permeable, or when run-off is directed to a soakaway or a permeable area within the property boundary.

Scotland's permitted development rules are set out in the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order and differ in detail from the English rules that dominate national driveway content. Confirm the current position on mygov.scot and with Glasgow City Council's planning service before you commit.

When does a driveway need planning permission?

Permission is likely to be required in the following circumstances.

• The property is a listed building, or sits within a conservation area where hard surfacing is controlled
• A new vehicle access is being formed onto a trunk or classified road
• The hard surface is impermeable and discharges surface water onto the public highway
• Existing planning conditions on the property restrict hard standing or parking
• The works involve significant excavation, retaining structures or a change in ground level

Planning permission and dropped kerb consent are separate. A driveway can be permitted development and still need a vehicle crossing approval from roads services.

How does permeable surfacing avoid a planning application?

A permeable surface lets rainfall soak through the driveway build-up instead of running onto the road, which removes the drainage trigger for permission.

• Resin-bound gravel over a permeable base
• Permeable block paving with open-graded jointing aggregate
• Loose gravel over a stabilising grid and membrane
• Impermeable surfaces falling to a soakaway, rain garden or permeable border within the plot

What should a Glasgow homeowner check first?

1. Check the property status

   [1]

   Confirm whether the address is listed or within a conservation area using Glasgow City Council's planning portal.

2. Decide the surface

   [2]

   Choose a permeable build-up, or plan where surface water will be held on site.

3. Check the access

   [3]

   Establish whether a dropped kerb already exists and whether the road is classified.

4. Confirm before ordering

   [4]

   Ask the council's planning service for written confirmation where any doubt remains.