Creating parking space for a second vehicle

Driveway Too Small for Two Cars

Most driveways that 'do not fit two cars' are within a metre or so of working. Knowing the real dimensions needed usually reveals a solution that does not involve concreting the entire frontage.

Door clearance, not just vehicle length, is what makes a drive comfortable.

Block Paving work by Gardenscape in Essex

The dimensions that matter

Plan on a generous bay per car with room to open doors properly — parking two cars side by side needs meaningfully more width than twice a single car's width once doors and mirrors are considered.

Tandem parking needs length and works best where the household coordinates who leaves first.

Where the space usually comes from

Removing a redundant boundary wall section, reducing an oversized border, squaring off a splayed corner, or widening across an unused verge within your boundary typically finds the extra metre.

A widened crossover may be needed and requires highway authority approval.

Keeping it looking like a garden

A full-width slab of paving looks stark. Retaining a planted strip, using a contrasting border course or a permeable gravel margin keeps kerb appeal while gaining the parking.

Permeable surfacing also keeps the works within permitted development.

Frequently asked questions

Can I pave over my whole front garden?

Yes, but over five square metres it should be permeable or drain to a permeable area within the boundary.

Does widening need council approval?

The driveway usually does not; altering or widening the crossover does.

Is tandem parking worth it?

It is often the cheapest way to gain a second space where width is fixed.

Need room for a second car?

We survey the frontage and design the most parking your plot allows.

Book a driveway survey Call 07535 661664