Just got a huge allotment. Anyone with a decent rotavator for sale or hire - Nr. Henley on Thames. Oxfordshire.
Dom

From the New Statesman:

The measures were unveiled as part of a new wide-ranging water strategy to tackle the effects of climate and population change.

But the Conservatives accused Ministers of more dithering as Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central, launched a review into charges imposed by water companies amid concern they were becoming unaffordable to some people.

Under Mr Benn's plans only people installing gravel or porous paving – allowing water to soak into the ground – would be able to convert their front garden without planning permission. The proposals will now be consulted on.

An area the size of 22 Hyde Parks has been paved over in London alone over the past decade, forcing more water to run into sewers until it can no longer cope, causing severe flooding.

Ministers hope demanding planning permission will also help tackle cowboy builders who pave drives but disappear after doing a shoddy job.

"We're saying if you're going to put down permeable paving or gravel, that's fine," said Mr Benn.

"If you're going to put down impermeable paving, you're going to have to apply for planning permission. In the end that's to everyone's benefit because the truth is if we pave over and Tarmac and concrete over our towns and cities and vast amounts of water fall out of the sky where do you think the water's going to go?"

Elliot Morley, Labour MP for S****horpe and chairman of the all-party water group, said: "There has been a trend in recent years, particularly where parking is a problem, for people to pave their gardens and park on them. It must have quite an impact on the ability of land to soak away water."

well if it was done properly in the firstplace......................................................................
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Posted the article as a photo so please read
Space-Frames would help in the specified areas.

Dom.

I have joined the garden network as spaceframe, so rather than look like I am spamming, I will give a brief description of my other business which designs and fits renewable energy products (if you want more info drop me a line).
Now the reason for the blog.  As some of your are no doubt aware ground source heat pumps are becoming more widespread, the use of 'slinky's' and trenches can cause a significant drop  in soil temperature if they are incorrectly installed of specified ( we have seen a number of perma-frosts after only 18 months)
If you are doing a project using / incorporating ground source pipe work and are concerned as to its effects please contact me and I can let you know the implications or help with the specification.
Just a thought for designers and landscapers, why not start including ground coils into designs ? even if the customer doesn,t need it now, it will not discourage them in the future. Pipes can be fitted and capped, why not future proof your garden ?
I can supply materials and installation know how if required let me know what you think.

Dominic

We have just launched a new product call Space-Frame. It is steel framed platform / decking system. Built to individual designs the possibilities are endless.......
In-built  veg.beds, fire-pits, water features, rainwater harvesting, building foundations - what can you come up with ?
We are especially proud of the SolarDec - it is embedded with a solar collector, meaning you can sit on your solar panel !
Tell us what you need for your project.
Dom.