Homeowners have been warned to be aware of companies who wrongly tell them to pave over their front garden without the permission of the Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation.

The town’s design principles, used to help protect the character of Letchworth, mean most homes are restricted to no more than 50 per cent hardstanding in their front gardens.

But according to the Foundation, companies have been knocking on doors telling people they do not need consent for additional work, leaving homeowners with the possibility of legal action being taken against them.

Along with the Foundation team, who are looking to preserve the leafy look of the town, the Royal Horticultural Society is running a campaign to encourage people to keep their gardens green.

Chris Shipman, who is the estate development officer for the Foundation’s heritage advisory team, said: “If you are thinking of adding or replacing hard surfacing or even artificial grass on your front garden, please do check with us first.

“It’s a garden city and we need to protect its appearance. Excessive hard surfacing can also lead to problems with rainwater drainage.

“I’ve seen 22 cases in the last year which have been recently completed or in progress without approval.

“In some of these cases, homeowners now face expensive remedial work to restore a more acceptable appearance – while others face the possibility of enforcement action.”

The advisory team – which is based at the community hub in Station Road – are available to give free pre-application advice, as well as the Foundation’s landscape architect.

You can get in touch with them by calling 01462 476017 or emailing home@letchworth.com.

More information on the design principles can be found online at www.letchworth.com/heritage-foundation/designprinciples.