Drivers in London spared from new driveway charges | Tech News

Sadiq Khan has ruled out introducing new charges to householders who get pleasure from entry to personal driveways in London. Last 12 months, the London Climate Resilience Review, a report commissioned by the Mayor of London’s Office, prompt that introducing charges may scale back flood dangers. 

The report confused it might be potential to charge people based mostly on the quantity of impermeable land they own, with tarmac driveways the principle contributor. The report added that the rule would “disincentivise” the paving over of inexperienced areas comparable to gardens. However, talking solely to Express.co.uk, Sadiq Khan’s workplace confused the Mayor was not set to introduce any “drainage charges” anytime soon.

Officials stressed Mr Khan didn’t even have the power to introduce new charges in a boost for London homeowners this summer.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “The Mayor is not going to introduce a drainage charge in London, and he doesn’t have the power to. The independent Climate Resilience Review set out a number of proposals the Government could look at to reduce the risk of surface water flooding in London and across the country. 

“The Mayor recently published the London Surface Water Strategy, which will help enable and support the delivery of cost-effective solutions to manage surface water flooding and help green London.”

Permeable land is needed to soak up heavy rainfall, as water is likely to just sit on top of impermeable concrete.

The London Climate Resilience Review, revealed in July 2024, prompt that “paving front gardens further adds to the problem” of elevated rainfall.

They warned that even permeable paving would require common upkeep with grooves typically filling up with moss, weeds and dirt. 

They confused because of this permeable paving and driveways don’t seize run-off, which may be a explicit downside during heavy downpours. 

The research prompt that issuing charges might be a method across the concern of the quantity of permeable land falling in current years. 

The report defined: “As more people are angered by their neighbours adding to local flood risk, one solution could be charging people based on the surface area of the land they own that is impermeable. 

“This would not only raise much-needed revenue to mitigate risks, but also disincentivise paving over gardens and other green spaces.”