The brief
Our client had created a parking space in the front garden of their home on the main road through Great Oakley, so they could charge an electric car. The council's enforcement team said it needed planning permission, so we were asked to put it on a proper footing. The key question was highway safety: could a car pull out safely onto the road?
The design
We surveyed the site, taking laser levels along the road in both directions from the entrance, and found very little change in level. From that we drew visibility splays to the standard for a 30mph road: a 2.4-metre set-back from the road edge, with clear views 43 metres in each direction. The drawing also shows:
- a 3.7-metre-wide upgraded entrance with a hard surface
- a 2.75 by 6 metre parking space, to the Essex parking standard
- the EV charger
We also checked the accident records, which showed no recorded crashes at this spot in 26 years. Our design statement set out the evidence, along with photographs of the views both ways. The space sits quietly in the street scene of the conservation area, provided the front hedge is kept trimmed.
The outcome
Tendring District Council granted planning permission. The enforcement issue is resolved, and our client can keep using the driveway and charging their car at home.
