Death of the front garden: Lack of parking sees Brits spend £27 billion turning front gardens into driveways

  • 3.5 million Brits are planning to convert their front garden into a driveway, while a further five million would consider doing so
  • However, around a quarter (23 per cent) of applications for dropped kerbs were not approved last year
  • Over 7,500 investigations into illegally-installed driveways and dropped kerbs have been carried out by councils since 2018
  • London, the South East and West Midlands account for nearly half (46 per cent) of all driveway conversions as homeowners look to guarantee a parking space

New research1 from Direct Line Home Insurance reveals 6.6 million Brits (12 per cent) have converted either some or all of their front garden into a driveway to guarantee a parking spot outside their home. The lack of parking in towns and cities means a further 3.5 million people (seven per cent) are currently planning to covert some or all of their front gardens into parking and a further 4.8 million are considering doing so in the future. 

The average cost of having a driveway installed is £2,475, meaning some £16.3 billion has been spent by those who have already made the changes to their front gardens. A further £10.7 billion is expected to be spent in the coming years as the 3.5 million people currently planning on installing a driveway on their property have the work carried out. This means that Brits will have spent a total of £27 billion turning their front gardens into driveways.

With driveway installations only increasing in popularity it is important that people know the difference in cost between different types of driveway. A gravel driveway is the cheapest option3, setting those who install one back roughly £40 per m². However, for those who want to install a brick driveway it will cost over double that amount, at £105 per m², with paving slabs at £90 per m² and concrete costing £70 per m².

Parking spaces being few and far between in urban areas, coupled with many streets having parking restrictions or being heavily permitted, explains why 14.8 million people either have, or are thinking about, making such transformations to their outdoor space. The main reason people have or want to turn gardens into driveways is to make parking easier (38 per cent), to fit in more than one car (36 per cent) and to keep cars safer (32 per cent).

Further research2 reveals that over the past three years there has been a rise in the number of applications for dropped kerbs received by local councils. In 2018/19, councils received an estimated 14,500 planning requests for dropped kerbs, rising to 14,700 in 2020/21.

However, despite this, the proportion of approved applications has fallen, from 80 per cent in 2018/19 to 74 per cent in 2020/21. It appears that this has resulted in many taking matters into their own hands. Over the past three years there have been more than 7,500 investigations into illegally-installed driveways (4,274) and dropped kerbs (3,347), working out at nearly eight per day across the UK.

Dan Simson, Head of Direct Line Home Insurance, said: “Parking spaces across many parts of the UK are in high demand. It is interesting to see how kerb appeal now means a dropped kerb, rather than an attractive front garden, with parking valued much more highly than grass and shrubbery.

“Creating a driveway often means a dropped kerb which involves applying for planning permission from a local council. We would encourage anyone thinking about doing this to do their research to ensure they have all the correct permissions in place. It is also important to keep your insurer in the loop to make sure your policy remains valid and you are adequately covered.”

Regional data

London has seen the highest number of driveways installed, with nearly 1.2 million people having replaced some or all of their front garden. This accounts for nearly a fifth (18 per cent) of all conversions and is followed by the South East (950,000 conversions, or 14 per cent) and West Midlands (900,000 conversions, or 14 per cent). With over a third (36 per cent) of the UK population living in these three regions, this underlines the demand for accessible parking in densely-populated areas.

Demand for driveways in these areas shows no signs of abating either, with these three regions also accounting for 62 per cent (2.2 million) of all those currently planning to convert heir front garden into a driveway.

Table one: Front garden conversions by region

Region

Number who have converted a front garden into a driveway

Share of UK total

Number planning to convert a front garden into a driveway

Share of UK total

London

1,164,000

18 per cent

1,058,000

30 per cent

South East

952,000

14 per cent

608,000

17 per cent

West Midlands

899,000

14 per cent

502,000

14 per cent

East of England

661,000

10 per cent

106,000

3 per cent

Yorkshire and Humberside

582,000

9 per cent

212,000

6 per cent

East Midlands

582,000

9 per cent

317,000

9 per cent

North West

555,000

8 per cent

212,000

6 per cent

Scotland

397,000

6 per cent

79,000

2 per cent

South West

343,000

5 per cent

159,000

5 per cent

Wales

264,000

4 per cent

26,000

1 per cent

North East

79,000

1 per cent

106,000

3 per cent

Northern Ireland

53,000

1 per cent

79,000

2 per cent

UK total

6,600,000

100 per cent

3,500,000

100 per cent

When looking at dropped curb applications, Scotland has the highest application approval rate (98 per cent) followed by the East Midlands (91 per cent) and London (90 per cent). The regions with the highest proportion of investiagtions into illegally installed driveways were Yorkshire (26 per cent), the East Midlands (12 per cent) and London (10 per cent).

For more information please visit www.directline.com/home-cover

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1        Research conducted by Opinium among a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults between 28th May – 1st June 2021.

2        Freedom of Information Act request made to 381 local counils across the UK in March 2021. A total of 252 (66 per cent) councils responded to this request, of which 153 (40 per cent) provided usable data.

3        Research courtesy of Checkatrade’s “driveway cost calculator & guide 2021”

For further information please contact:

Chelsey Wheeler
PR manager – Direct Line  

Tel: 01651 832 095

Email: [email protected]

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0345 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com/home-cover

is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0345 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com/home-cover