A new driveway is a hard-wearing surface for parking, such as block paving, resin bound gravel, tarmac or gravel, laid on an excavated and compacted sub-base with edging and drainage designed to carry vehicle loads and handle rainwater.
Newtownards sits within our coverage for a new driveway, as do neighbouring Bangor, County Down, Castlereagh and Belfast. Before giving a price we want to see the property: the condition of what's there now, the access, and anything that might need extra work. The guide range for Northern Ireland is £3,400–£7,700 including VAT, and your written quote will spell out exactly what that covers.
- Guide price
- £3,400–£7,700 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- BT23
- Planning rules
- Northern Ireland
- Local area
- Ards
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
What should you budget for a new driveway in Newtownards?
Prices for a new driveway vary from house to house, but in Newtownards most projects fall within £3,400–£7,700 including VAT. That reflects costs in Northern Ireland, about 14% below the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Newtownards |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel or tarmac | A typical 40–50m² drive in gravel on a grid, or tarmac with block edging. | £1,700–£4,300 |
| Block paving or resin bound | A typical 40–50m² drive with sub-base, edging and drainage. | £3,400–£7,700 |
| Large or premium driveway | Larger drives, natural stone, walls, steps or a new dropped kerb. | £6,900–£14,000 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Driveway area and the depth of excavation needed
- Surface: gravel, tarmac, block paving, resin or stone
- Edging, steps, walls and manhole adjustments
- Access for machinery and removal of spoil
What does the job include in Newtownards?
- Survey of levels, drainage, manholes and access
- Weed membrane and compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
- Edging kerbs or restraints to hold the surface in place
- Drainage channels or soakaway where needed
- Manhole covers raised or replaced to new levels
- New surface laid, compacted and finished
Local housing and a new driveway
County Down takes in suburbs of Belfast, Bangor and Holywood with Victorian and Edwardian villas, and Newry, Downpatrick and Banbridge with older town centres and newer estates. Mourne granite appears in buildings around the mountains, and detached rural homes and bungalows are common across the county, often rendered or pebbledashed.
Coastal areas such as the Ards Peninsula face salt and wind, and the Mournes bring heavier rain and colder conditions.
So when we survey a Newtownards property for a new driveway, the first step is working out how it was built and what has been changed since.
Do you need permission in Newtownards?
Which rules apply depends on where you live. For Newtownards, the answer is Northern Ireland, and the points below reflect that; we verify them with the council before quoting.
In Northern Ireland, hard surfaces around a house are often permitted development, but check that surface water drains within your property. A dropped kerb needs consent from DfI Roads.
Building control approval is not normally needed for a driveway.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How does the job run?
Free site survey
Book a visit and we'll come to you. The survey covers measurements, the state of what's there now and any obvious constraints, so the price that follows is based on your actual home, not an average.
Written quote
The quote arrives in writing, not over the phone. It covers the full scope, the finishes you've chosen, any exclusions and the payment schedule, with a fixed price tied to that specification.
Dates and permissions
Once you accept, we agree start dates, order materials and deal with any planning, building control or neighbour notices the job needs. You'll know who is coming and when before work begins.
Finish and handover
On site, the agreed plan is followed and any change is put in writing first. At completion we do a final clean, go through the snagging list with you and leave you with the relevant documents.
Why homeowners choose us
Frequently asked questions
How do you stop a driveway flooding?
A driveway stays dry when rainwater can drain away rather than pooling or running towards the house. Permeable surfaces such as resin bound gravel or permeable block paving let water soak through to the ground. Non-permeable surfaces need falls directing water to a channel drain, soakaway or garden border. We check levels and drainage during the survey and design the falls accordingly.
How long does it take to lay a driveway?
Laying a typical driveway takes around three to seven days, depending on size, surface and ground conditions. Excavation and sub-base usually take the first few days, then edging, drainage and the surface. Resin needs dry weather and time to cure, and you will usually need to keep cars off for a short period afterwards. We confirm timings and access arrangements with your quote.
Which driveway surface is easiest to maintain?
Resin bound gravel is one of the easiest surfaces to maintain, because it is smooth, porous and resists weeds, needing only an occasional sweep and wash. Block paving needs re-sanding joints and occasional weed control. Tarmac needs little upkeep but can soften in heat. Gravel needs raking and topping up. We explain the upkeep of each surface before you choose.
Which postcodes in Newtownards do you cover?
We cover BT23, along with the rest of County Down. If your postcode is not listed, get in touch anyway: our coverage is UK-wide, and we can usually arrange a survey wherever you live. Enter your postcode in the guide-price tool or contact form and we will confirm.
Who do I deal with during the job?
One point of contact manages your project from survey to handover. They schedule the trades working under our contract, keep you updated on progress, and are the person to call with any question. You don't need to coordinate builders, electricians or decorators separately, because that is part of what we do.
Also covering areas around Newtownards
We welcome enquiries from all BT23 postcodes in Newtownards, plus Bangor, County Down, Castlereagh and Belfast. Each one gets the same survey at no charge and a written price fixed for the work described.