climber in gap between driveway and house

fair point I obviously don't want anything with big roots and I can position it away from the pipes, but surely something like a clematis isn't going to produce roots that break through pipes?

Fine roots can be a big problem with sewers and soakaways, they work into a crack or joint and quickly block the pipe.

Winter flowering jasmine was my undoing !

If the drains are new plastic with good joints you may be ok.

If there is any seepage the roots WILL  find it , follow it and get in and block the pipe .
Just a matter of time !

As I previously stated Andy, the ground adjacent to a wall is the driest area in your garden so when the roots grow in search of water any leak or crack in your pipes will be at risk.

I was given a plant with dusky orange flowers that was (supposedly) an everlasting sweet pea, though the flowers didn't quite look like it. Anyway, four years later, I dug it up as it wasn't anything special and it had deep, fat, almost rubbery roots that re-grew, but now it has finally gone. Why not put up an ornamental trellis and plant a climbing annual that doesn't mind some shade and keep it well-watered? That way you will avoid any problems with roots invading pipes as you definitely don't want to go there just for the sake of a climber.

Okay this may sound like a silly option, but can you not just have a large pot. I have many climbers that are in pots with trelis that have now spread over the fence.

Alternatively can you not plant a climber some distance away from footing etc and train it to grow the the direction of the gap? Will take time admittedly.

Or am I a bit dim?