Cost guides › New driveway
United Kingdom
How much does a new driveway cost?
A new 50 m² block paved driveway typically costs £5,500 including VAT, with most quotes between £4,250 and £7,100. That includes digging out, a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, a sharp sand bed, concrete block paving and kerb edging. Tarmac comes in around £4,350, and a resin-bound drive with a contrasting border is about £6,650. Choose gravel, tarmac, plain or pattern-imprinted concrete in the calculator to price them, and add removal of the old drive or a channel drain and soakaway.
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mid-range, typicalCost by region
| Location | Basic | Mid-range | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | £4,550 | £5,850 | £7,000 |
| Scotland | £4,400 | £5,550 | £6,700 |
| South East | £4,350 | £5,500 | £6,650 |
| East | £4,300 | £5,400 | £6,600 |
| North West | £4,300 | £5,400 | £6,550 |
| West Midlands | £4,300 | £5,400 | £6,550 |
| East Midlands | £4,250 | £5,350 | £6,500 |
| North East | £4,250 | £5,350 | £6,500 |
| South West | £4,300 | £5,350 | £6,550 |
| Wales | £4,250 | £5,350 | £6,500 |
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| Yorkshire and The Humber | £4,250 | £5,300 | £6,450 |
What's included
Mid-range
- Excavating about 250 to 300 mm and taking the spoil away
- A geotextile membrane under the sub-base
- MOT Type 1 sub-base laid in layers and compacted with a plate or roller
- Sharp sand laying course screeded to falls
- Concrete block paving laid in a herringbone pattern and cut in
- Edging kerbs haunched in concrete along the sides
- Kiln-dried sand brushed into the joints and the surface compacted
What affects the cost
Surface material
Gravel is the cheapest surface, then tarmac and plain concrete. Pattern-imprinted concrete and block paving cost more, and resin-bound gravel sits at the top of the usual range.
Digging out and the sub-base
A driveway is only as good as what is under it. Soft or clay ground needs a deeper dig and more Type 1, which means more muck away and more stone; skimping here is why cheap drives sink and rut.
Removing the old drive
Breaking out an old concrete drive is slow and the waste is heavy, so it adds noticeably to the price. Lifting old block paving, gravel or tarmac is cheaper.
Drainage and permeability
If the new drive is impermeable, water must run to a lawn or border, or into a channel drain and soakaway. Permeable block paving, gravel and resin-bound on a porous base avoid the extra drainage.
Access and skips
Tight front gardens, terraces without side access or parking restrictions for the skip and grab lorry add labour and hire costs.
Design details
Borders, curves, steps up to the door and pattern changes in block paving all mean more cutting. A straight herringbone drive with a simple border is the most economical.
How to save
- Choose a permeable surface so you don't need a soakaway or a planning application.
- Keep the existing kerb line and footprint; widening often needs a new dropped kerb, which is a separate council job.
- Ask the installer whether a sound existing sub-base can be kept, which saves on digging and muck away.
- Compare quotes line by line: dig depth, sub-base thickness, edging and drainage should match.
Grants, tax and rules
Planning permission for front gardens (England)
Since 1 October 2008, paving more than 5 m² of a front garden is permitted development only if the surface is permeable or the rainwater runs to a lawn, border or soakaway. A traditional impermeable drive that drains onto the road needs planning permission (gov.uk guidance on permeable surfacing of front gardens).
Dropped kerbs
To drive across the pavement you need a dropped kerb, which you apply for through your local council in England and Wales. It is not included in our figures.
VAT
Our figures include 20% VAT.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a new driveway cost in the UK?
A 50 m² block paved driveway with a proper sub-base costs around £5,500 including VAT. Tarmac is about £4,350, and resin-bound with a border about £6,650. Removing an old concrete drive and adding drainage are extra.
Do I need planning permission for a new driveway?
In England, not if the surface is permeable or water drains to a lawn or border on your property. If you pave more than 5 m² of a front garden with an impermeable surface that drains to the road, you need planning permission.
Is resin-bound better than block paving?
Resin-bound gives a smooth, seamless, permeable finish and needs little weeding. Block paving costs a little less, is easy to repair by lifting blocks, and copes well with heavy vehicles. Both need a good sub-base.
How long does it take to lay a driveway?
A typical block paved drive takes about a week, from digging out to sanding the joints. Tarmac and resin-bound are quicker once the sub-base is in; concrete needs several days before you can park on it.
What is the cheapest type of driveway?
Gravel on a compacted sub-base with edging. It is permeable, so no soakaway or planning application is needed, but it needs raking and topping up and can spread onto the pavement.
How this estimate is calculated
Work hours: 78.6 · Labour: £2,491 · Materials: £2,076
Sources: ONS Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, tables 14 and 15; Regione Toscana, Prezzario dei Lavori 2026 (CC BY 4.0); ECB exchange rates; market check: Mid = concrete block paving, 50 m2 incl. VAT. Checkatrade driveway block paving cost (updated May 2026): GBP 90-130/m2, about GBP 5,500 for a 50 m2 double driveway; Checkatrade resin-bound guide (Apr 2026 table) block paving GBP 100/m2 all-in..
Last reviewed 26 September 2026 · How we calculate costs · Editorial policy