Homeowners in one community are being paid £75 per m2 to replace driveways with permeable alternatives

Southern Water is paying homeowners in the Isle of Wight to replace their driveways with more permeable materials to tackle flooding.

Residents in Binstead, near Ryde, are being offered £75 per square metre to "swap paved for porous" as part of the ‘de-paving’ pilot scheme.

The scheme is being introduced with a view to a wider roll-out to help combat flooding and relieve pressure on surface water drainage across the South.

What is the ‘de-paving’ pilot scheme?

The ‘de-paving’ pilot scheme by Southern Water is designed to reduce flooding by replacing impermeable driveways and surfaces with permeable paving alternatives like gravel and cobblestones using cash incentives for homeowners.

This change allows rainwater to be absorbed into the ground rather than overwhelming drains and sewers. The scheme aims to decrease the frequency of storm overflows.

Southern Water engineer Harry Buckingham said: "The increase in paved gardens and driveways in the UK makes flooding more likely and contributes to storm overflows being activated.

"We are committed to reducing overflows and helping customers to slow the flow of water entering the system through measures including water butts, soakaways and permeable driveways."

Why is the trial in the Isle of Wight?

The Isle of Wight has been selected for the ‘de-paving’ pilot scheme due to the frequent flooding events that villagers have experienced in recent years, primarily caused by excess surface water.

Southern Water, in collaboration with the Isle of Wight Council and the Environment Agency, has introduced this pilot as part of a broader strategy to address the issue.

The scheme also aims to lessen the need for storm overflows, such as the Binstead overflow, which Southern Water has had to activate up to 20 times a year to prevent further flooding of homes and businesses.

Will the scheme be rolled out in other areas?

Southern Water intends to use the data gathered from the pilot scheme to support a broader implementation across the South East.

The goal is to replace approximately 4,000 non-permeable driveways and over 1,100 hectares of hard surfaces within the next five years, aiming to reduce storm overflows and related flooding.

However, no plans have yet been announced to introduce similar schemes in other areas of the UK.

If you are from Binstead and want to see if you're eligible you can email waterbutts@southernwater.co.uk for more information.