Who lives in Pity Me
Pity Me is part of the civil parish of Framwellgate Moor, along with Brasside. The old Front Street runs north from Framwellgate Moor, with terraced houses and the Lambton Hounds Inn, meeting Abbey Road at a roundabout. Estates such as Bishops Way, The Avenue and Harvey Avenue spread to either side, with Rotary Way and the Arnison Centre shopping park to the north and the open land of The Carrs nearby.
The census area around The Avenue and Harvey Avenue (LSOA County Durham 023B) had 787 households at the 2021 Census: 55% semi-detached, 18% detached, 13% terraced and 12% flats. 66% were owner-occupied, 21% rented privately and 13% socially. A third of households (33%) had two or more vehicles, and a fifth had none.
The wider Framwellgate and Newton Hall ward had 5,996 households, 58% of them in semis, and 73% owner-occupied.
Typical Pity Me work:
- A two-car drive across the front of a semi.
- Replacing an old concrete or tarmac drive on a 1970s–1990s house.
- A single space in front of a Front Street terrace, where depth allows.
- Driveways for rented homes, arranged with the landlord.
The ground
The British Geological Survey maps Pity Me on glaciofluvial sand and gravel over Coal Measures sandstone. Sand and gravel drains well, so permeable surfaces and soakaways tend to work without much trouble. It does need care:
- Loose sand must be dug out to a firm layer.
- A membrane stops the stone sub-base mixing with the sand.
- The sub-base is compacted in layers to stop ruts forming.
- Edges are set in concrete so blocks or tarmac do not spread.
The Environment Agency's flood map shows one Flood Zone 2 and one Flood Zone 3 area within 300 metres of The Avenue. Check your address on the flood map before planning a drive.
Permissions
Planning. Pity Me has no conservation area. The only listed buildings close by are at Kimblesworth Grange to the north-west. For a house, a permeable front drive, or one draining to the garden, is permitted development. Impermeable paving over five square metres draining to the road needs planning permission. If you are in a mapped flood zone, permeable is the sensible choice anyway.
Vehicle crossing licence. Durham County Council requires a licence for any new or extended crossing over a pavement or verge. The fee is £171, paid once you have chosen a contractor and before work starts. If the council refuses the application, there is no fee. The approval letter lists registered contractors. On Front Street and near the roundabouts, visibility is checked carefully. See our dropped kerbs page.
Prices in Pity Me
A two-car drive on a semi is often around 30m². At Checkatrade's April 2026 UK averages:
| Surface | Per m² | 30m² |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel with a grid | about £60 | roughly £1,800 |
| Tarmac | about £90 | roughly £2,700 |
| Block paving | about £100 | roughly £3,000 |
| Resin bound | about £120 | roughly £3,600 |
Imprinted concrete is another option we can price. Removing an old drive, the £171 licence and building the crossing are extras. On sandy ground, drainage costs are often lower than on clay.
Which surface? Block paving remains the most popular choice on Pity Me's semis, often in a herringbone pattern where cars turn onto the drive. Resin bound and gravel in a grid both let rain soak into the sandy ground, which suits homes close to The Carrs. Tarmac is the hard-wearing, lower-cost option for a long or heavily used drive. Imprinted concrete covers a full front garden in one seamless finish, though repairs are harder to blend in later. Whichever you choose, ask for the edges to be set in concrete, because on sand an unrestrained edge will slowly spread outwards.
Places near Pity Me
- Driveways, Framwellgate Moor: South along Front Street, the village that gives the parish its name.
- Driveways, Newton Hall: East, a large estate of semis.
- Driveways, Belmont: South-east across the Wear, a suburb of semis and detached houses.
Popular choices in Pity Me: block paved driveways, tarmacadam, pattern imprinted concrete.
Full list of areas: Full list.
Questions people ask in Pity Me
Can I have a drive in front of my Front Street terrace?
Only if there is enough depth for the car to sit clear of the pavement, usually about 5 metres. Many Front Street terraces are shallower.
Is Pity Me at risk of flooding?
There is one Flood Zone 2 and one Flood Zone 3 area within 300 metres of The Avenue, near The Carrs. Check your address on the flood map.
How much is a dropped kerb licence?
Durham County Council charges £171, paid once a contractor is arranged. There is no fee if the application is refused.
Is Pity Me a conservation area?
No. Pity Me has no conservation area, so a permeable drive on a house does not need planning permission.
Sources: ONS Census 2021, Framwellgate and Newton Hall ward and LSOA County Durham 023B (TS044, TS045, TS054 via Nomis); Wikipedia: Pity Me; Wikipedia: Framwellgate Moor (parish); Planning Data: conservation areas and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer, 1:50,000; Environment Agency flood map for planning; Durham County Council: vehicle access over kerbs; Checkatrade driveway cost guide (April 2026).