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.
Homes across Shropshire vary a great deal, so we price a new driveway only after seeing the property. Our coverage takes in Telford, Shrewsbury, Wellington and Oswestry and the surrounding districts. As a guide, expect £3,900–£8,800 including VAT in the West Midlands; the final figure depends on size, materials and access. Any permissions are checked against the rules for England before we quote.
- Guide price
- £3,900–£8,800 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Planning rules
- England
- Price level
- About 2% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 4
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new driveway cost in Shropshire?
These are guide costs, not quotes. For a new driveway in Shropshire the range is £3,900–£8,800, VAT included, reflecting prices in the West Midlands that are about 2% below the national guide. Once we have visited for a free survey, you get a firm figure for the scope you approve.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Shropshire |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel or tarmac | A typical 40–50m² drive in gravel on a grid, or tarmac with block edging. | £1,950–£4,900 |
| Block paving or resin bound | A typical 40–50m² drive with sub-base, edging and drainage. | £3,900–£8,800 |
| Large or premium driveway | Larger drives, natural stone, walls, steps or a new dropped kerb. | £7,800–£15,500 |
The main things that change the figure:
- 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
Scope of the work
- Survey of levels, drainage, manholes and access
- Weed membrane and compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
- Drainage channels or soakaway where needed
- Manhole covers raised or replaced to new levels
- New surface laid, compacted and finished
- Site cleared and waste removed
Housing across Shropshire
Shrewsbury and Ludlow are known for black-and-white timber-framed buildings alongside Georgian brick, and red sandstone is common in the north of the county. Telford was built as a new town from the late 1960s with large planned estates, and market towns such as Oswestry, Bridgnorth and Whitchurch mix historic centres with interwar and newer housing.
Timber-framed and stone buildings often need lime plaster, breathable finishes and roof repairs. Telford homes commonly suit extensions, window replacement and roofline or cladding renewal.
The Severn floods regularly in Shrewsbury and downstream, and the hills along the Welsh border are exposed to wind and heavier rain.
Do you need permission in Shropshire?
Planning law differs across the UK. For a home in Shropshire, it is the England rules below that count, and we check them with the council ahead of any 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.
How does the job run?
Survey and measure
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new driveway, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Price and scope agreed
We turn the survey notes into a written quote. The price is fixed for the specification we agree, and the document sets out materials, scope and payment stages in plain language.
Booking the work
We handle the paperwork side: checking whether planning permission or building control approval is needed, submitting applications where they are, and scheduling the trades and materials around your dates.
Finish and handover
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.
How we work
Frequently asked questions
Can you combine a new driveway with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan a new driveway alongside other work on your Shropshire home, such as new windows with rendering, or a kitchen refit with an extension. Combining jobs can reduce repeat set-up such as scaffolding, skips and access, and every element is listed and priced in the same written quote.
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
Do I need permission for a dropped kerb?
A dropped kerb lets vehicles cross the pavement onto your drive, and creating or widening one needs consent from your local highways authority. They usually check visibility, the distance from junctions and trees, and whether there is enough space to park off the road. Many councils carry out the kerb work themselves or use approved contractors. We can help with the application.
What is a sub-base and why does it matter?
The sub-base is the layer of crushed, compacted stone beneath the driveway surface that spreads the weight of vehicles into the ground. Most driveway failures, such as sinking, rutting and loose blocks, come from a sub-base that is too thin or poorly compacted. We excavate to the right depth for your soil and compact the sub-base in layers before laying the surface.
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 Shropshire
Below is our list of Shropshire towns for a new driveway. If yours isn't shown, we may still cover it, so it is worth asking us directly.