Before you choose a surface for a new drive in North Walsham, find out whether your house sits inside a conservation area. North Norfolk District Council has 84 of them, more than Norwich, Great Yarmouth and Broadland have between them. North Walsham has its own. Plenty of owners only learn they live in one when a planning question comes up. Expert Paving and Landscaping lays driveways in the town and across North Norfolk, and we check where you stand at the site visit.
Want a price for your drive? Ring 01603 858680 for a written quote. Live outside the town? See the towns and villages we cover.
What we install: block paving, resin and tarmac in North Walsham
We lay block paving, resin bound and tarmac drives in the town, along with patios and fencing. The surface you pick changes what the council expects from you.
Permeable block paving and resin bound let rainwater drain through. That can keep a front garden drive outside the planning rule explained below. A solid surface that sheds water onto the road may not.
Nearer the coast, at Cromer or Sheringham, salt carried on the wind wears down badly finished edges, so we put more work into edge restraint on those jobs.
Council rules for North Walsham driveways: planning, conservation and dropped kerbs
Two councils may be involved before work starts. North Norfolk District Council covers planning and conservation areas. Norfolk County Council covers dropped kerbs.
Our guide to planning permission for a driveway in Norfolk sets out the national rule and which council deals with what.
Planning permission with North Norfolk District Council
Front gardens follow the national rule. A hard surface over 5m² needs planning permission if rainwater runs onto the road. To avoid applying, drain water into a lawn or border, fit a soakaway, or lay a permeable surface.
At our site visit we’ll tell you if permission is likely. The council makes the final decision.
84 conservation areas, North Walsham among them
The council’s list runs from market towns like Fakenham and Holt to villages like Walsingham and Worstead. Some homes sit in two at once; the council gives Thorpe Market and Gunton Park as an example.
The North Walsham appraisal was adopted on 23 December 2009. Once adopted, an appraisal is a material planning consideration, so it can shape what the council accepts on your frontage.
A council can also add an Article 4 Direction to a conservation area, which removes some work you could normally do without permission. And if a tree has to come out to make room for the drive, you must give the council six weeks’ notice before cutting down, topping or lopping any but the smallest trees.
How to check if you’re inside one
Open the council’s web map. Select the Main Menu (three lines, top left), then My Data, Cultural Heritage and Conservation Area. You can also download the North Walsham boundary map as a PDF.
If you’re inside, ask the council whether an Article 4 Direction applies before you settle on materials.
Dropped kerbs
To drive across the pavement you need a dropped kerb. That’s a separate application to Norfolk County Council.
The council’s 2026 prices are £193.92 for the non-refundable application and a guide figure of around £3,050 for the works. We don’t set or collect these charges. A decision usually comes within 28 days.
Only Norse Group, the council’s contractor, builds the crossing. Your front garden needs to be at least 5m deep, or 6m in front of a garage or door.
A refusal still costs you the fee, so ask us first whether approval looks likely.
Paving, driveway and garden services for North Walsham homes
- Block paving driveways
- Resin bound driveways
- Tarmac driveways
- Patios
- Garden fencing
- Garden landscaping
Frequently asked questions
Is my house in the North Walsham conservation area?
Check the council’s web map or the North Walsham boundary PDF on north-norfolk.gov.uk. If you’re inside, speak to the council before you choose a surface.
Can I have a new driveway in a conservation area?
A conservation area brings extra planning controls, not an automatic refusal. The council looks at your plans against the appraisal and any Article 4 Direction. We’ll give you our view at the site visit, but the council decides.
Will I need planning permission for a new driveway?
Only if the hard surface in your front garden is over 5m² and drains onto the road. Permeable block paving and resin bound avoid this. In a conservation area, check with the council as well.
Do you work in other North Norfolk towns?
Yes, including Cromer, Sheringham, Holt and Fakenham. Call 01603 858680 with your postcode.