planning permisssion for more drive

The neighbour might be right as the laws changed last year. This might help clarify what you can and can't do. Cut and paste into your browser.
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/england/genpub/en/1115316438436.html

You need to pop into the council offices and ask to speak to 'someone in Planning' about this. The actual rules vary from region to region.
Generally speaking you will be dissuaded from tarmac and be told to use some form of porous paving to prevent rainwater from running off the hard surface and into the drains. This is to reduce the risk of flooding in storms. Your driveway extension may seem very small beer to you but run-off from the masses of similar hard surfaces in urban areas is a prime contributer to flooding problems

Thank-you both, it certainly makes sense after the flooding we had here about 10 years ago although we were not affected directly.

Have just looked it up Elleme it seems quite simple we were having the old tarmaced redone as well and it seems we might still be able to with a porous tarmac and a run off to the flower beds. I will go in to the offices and find out more. thanks again.

A decorative gravel drive allows water to pass through, is more attractive, and actually costs less. If it's laid over a permeable weed suppressing membrane it will be relatively maintenance free (occasional spraying for weeds in the surface layer, which you can pull out by hand preferably).
I doubt very much that you need planning permission for merely extending a drive, whereas it is possible you do now for a new one.

Just read a note on this subject in our Neighbourhood watch newsletter. If you constuct a new driveway using permeable surfaces or if rainwater can soak away naturally you do not need planning permission. If the surface is impermeable then planning permission is now required

Thank-you lots of people must get caught out dont you think? The permeable does sound good.

Not sure everyone knows about the change, Drc, so I guess lots of people still concrete willy nilly. It's taken quite a while for the powers that be to recognise that all that paving , tarmac and concrete means much more flooding...

Well I didnt but it does makes a lot of sense.

A different driveway could be constucted by laying two rows of slabs, like tram lines, on the surface of the ground and filling the surrounding space with gravel. Then sow seeds of annuals or low growing plants on the gravel. Also plant crocus in the gravel.Premeable and pretty.

I had tram lines in my last house filled in with cobbles but as you say Bulbaholic gravel would drain.

Sorry should have said tram lines in my 'second' house.