Driveways in London

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.

Looking for a new driveway in London? We organise the whole job, bringing in the trades it needs under one agreement, and you have a single contact. We cover Brent, Islington, Westminster and Bexley, along with villages and suburbs nearby. The rules in England decide what consents are needed, and our guide range of £5,200–£11,500 including VAT gives you a realistic starting point for a budget.

Guide price: £5,200–£11,500 inc VAT
Time on site: 3–7 days on site
Planning rules: England
Price level: About 30% above the national guide
Towns listed: 90
Survey: Free, with a written quote

Driveways prices in London

What should you budget for a new driveway in London? Use the figures below as a starting point. Prices in London sit about 30% above the national guide, so the range here is £5,200–£11,500 including VAT. Your fixed price comes in writing once we've surveyed the property, at no charge.

Type of job	What it usually involves	Guide in London
Gravel or tarmac	A typical 40–50m² drive in gravel on a grid, or tarmac with block edging.	£2,600–£6,500
Block paving or resin bound	A typical 40–50m² drive with sub-base, edging and drainage.	£5,200–£11,500
Large or premium driveway	Larger drives, natural stone, walls, steps or a new dropped kerb.	£10,500–£21,000

Your price depends mostly on:

Driveway area and the depth of excavation needed
Surface: gravel, tarmac, block paving, resin or stone
Drainage, soakaways and changes in level
Edging, steps, walls and manhole adjustments

What do you get?

Survey of levels, drainage, manholes and access
Excavation and removal of the old surface and soil
Weed membrane and compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
Manhole covers raised or replaced to new levels
New surface laid, compacted and finished
Site cleared and waste removed

Block pavingConcrete or clay blocks in patterns and colours, permeable versions available.

Resin bound gravelA smooth, porous gravel finish that lets water drain through and needs little upkeep.

TarmacA practical, lower-cost surface that is quick to lay, with block edging for a neat finish.

GravelThe lowest-cost option, naturally permeable, laid on a stabilising grid to stop it spreading.

Homes in London

London's housing is dominated by Victorian and Edwardian terraces, often in yellow London stock brick, with Georgian terraces in central districts and mansion blocks across many inner areas. Outer boroughs have large belts of interwar semis, and there are extensive post-war council estates. Many houses have been split into flats, and conservation areas are widespread.

Terraces suit side-return extensions and rear dormer loft conversions; interwar semis commonly take hip-to-gable lofts. Shared party walls, restricted parking and conservation rules often shape the plans and the programme.

London Clay shrinks and swells with the seasons, and street trees close to houses can contribute to movement, which affects foundation design.

Planning and building rules in London

As London is in England, read the following with that system of planning and building control in mind. We check what applies to your house with the council before you receive a quote.

In England, a new or replacement front-garden surface over 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn or border within your property. A new dropped kerb needs consent from the council’s highways team, and access onto a classified road may need planning permission.

Building Regulations do not usually apply to driveways, but drainage must not discharge onto the road or a neighbour’s land.

Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.

The four stages

Survey and measure
We arrange a free site survey on a date convenient to you. We measure up, look at the existing structure and access, and discuss your plans for a new driveway so the price reflects your home.
Written quote
After the survey we send a quote for a new driveway that fixes the price for the scope we've agreed. If you want to change materials or scope, we revise it in writing before anything is booked.
Booking the work
Before anyone starts, we confirm the programme in writing, check whether consents are required and arrange deliveries. If a skip or scaffolding on the road needs a permit, we apply for it.
Build and hand over
Work goes ahead as scheduled and you deal with one contact throughout. When the last trade leaves, we clear and clean the site, talk you through what has been done and pass on any certificates and care instructions.

What you can expect from us

One point of contactA single named contact handles your project from the first survey to the final handover, so you always know who to call with a question.

Guide prices shown upfrontYou can see typical price ranges, including VAT, before you contact us, so you can judge whether a project fits your budget.

Permissions checked firstWe check whether planning permission or building control approval is needed for your property, and handle applications and notices where they apply.

Clear staged paymentsThe quote sets out when each payment falls due, linked to stages of the work, so you know in advance what is owed and when.

Questions about a new driveway in London

Can I stay at home during the work?

In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.

Can I use my car during the work?

You will not be able to park on the driveway while it is being dug out and laid, so plan to park on the street or nearby for the duration. We keep a safe pedestrian route to your front door where possible. After completion, block paving and tarmac can usually be driven on straight away, while resin and concrete need a short curing period first.

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.

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.

Do I need planning permission for a driveway?

Whether a driveway needs planning permission depends on its size, surface and drainage, your home's location, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you are in. In England, a new or replacement front driveway over 5m² needs permission unless it uses a permeable surface or drains to a lawn or border. We check the rules and design to suit.

Towns in London

Find your town below. Every place listed in London is covered for a new driveway, with the same survey, written quote and fixed-price process.

Driveways prices in London

What do you get?

Homes in London

Planning and building rules in London

The four stages

Survey and measure

Written quote

Booking the work

Build and hand over

What you can expect from us

Questions about a new driveway in London

Towns in London

Ready for a written price?