Hard surfacing is increasingly being used in front gardens in London. It is seen as a desirable, low maintenance, modern, 'tidy' look that will enhance the property. Front gardens are also under pressure for use as a parking space. Around two-thirds of London's front gardens are now either partially or totally covered in hard surfacing. This is equivalent to the loss of 22 Hyde Parks.
The effects of this are already being felt. Rain water is not absorbed by hard surfaces. It runs off into the street drains - picking up pollutants such as oil and heavy metals as it goes - then enters the sewage system. London's sewers were constructed in the 1850s and can't cope with the extra water during heavy rainfall. The excess (along with raw sewage) has to be discharged into rivers. This has impacts on wildlife and can result in localised flooding when the rivers burst their banks.
The lack of rainfall getting into the ground can cause the underlying soil to dry out and shrink. This can cause subsidence in neighbouring buildings. Quarrying, manufacturing and transportation of hard surfacing materials all cause environmental damage.
The need to allow access to parking in a front garden means that no-one can then park in front of it. This means that public parking space is lost on the street. Driveways create a series of mini-junctions with limited visibility that can make walking or cycling along the street more hazardous. They also tend to mean the removal of hedges, trees and verges. Streets without vegetation are noisier, dirtier and windier.
Streets with gardens are aesthetically more pleasing. Providing an individual property with off-street parking will increase its value, but when most of the properties in a road have lost their gardens property values in the entire road go down.
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Vegetation absorbs carbon dioxide which is important to counteract global warming. It also absorbs dust and pollutants and improves air quality. Noise is dampened and wind lessened. Plants have a cooling effect on their surroundings through shade and transpiration. Hard surfaces store heat during the day and release it at night, making sleep more difficult. The loss of vegetation means less food and habitats for wildlife and so less birds and pollinating insects.
There are alternatives to hard surfacing and, as part of their 'Greening Grey Britain' campaign, the RHS has practical advice on how to keep some vegetation even if you do need the parking space.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/get-involved/greening-grey-britain
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https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=738
http://www.ealingfrontgardens.org.uk
https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/assembly/put-the-garden-back-in-front-gardens-0
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