A patio is a paved outdoor area next to the house or in the garden, laid in porcelain, natural stone or concrete slabs on a compacted sub-base and mortar bed, with falls that direct rainwater away from the house.
Hove sits within our coverage for a new patio, as do neighbouring Brighton, Portslade and Shoreham-by-Sea. 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 the South East is £2,800–£6,200 including VAT, and your written quote will spell out exactly what that covers.
- Guide price
- £2,800–£6,200 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Postcodes
- BN1, BN3 and BN41
- Planning rules
- England
- Local area
- Brighton and Hove
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new patio cost in Hove?
Here is how the guide price for a new patio breaks down in Hove. We start from national figures and adjust for the South East, which comes out about 12% above the national guide. The resulting range, VAT included, is £2,800–£6,200, and a survey, at no cost to you, firms it up.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Hove |
|---|---|---|
| Small patio or path | Around 10m² of concrete slabs or a garden path. | £1,100–£2,800 |
| Typical 20m² patio | Sandstone or porcelain on a full sub-base with jointing and edging. | £2,800–£6,200 |
| Large or multi-level patio | Bigger areas, steps, retaining walls or premium stone. | £6,200–£13,500 |
Your price depends mostly on:
- Slab material, size and laying pattern
- Ground levels, slopes, steps and retaining walls
- Drainage needed to keep water away from the house
- Access for materials and removing spoil
What do you get?
- Survey of levels, damp-proof course, drainage and access
- Excavation and removal of turf, soil or old paving
- Compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
- Primer on porcelain slabs for a strong bond
- Jointing with mortar or a brush-in compound
- Edging and neat cuts around drains and walls
Local housing and a new patio
Brighton and Hove are known for Regency stucco terraces and bow-fronted houses, alongside Victorian terraces climbing the hills. Lewes and Brighton have mathematical tiles and flint walls, Eastbourne has large Victorian and Edwardian villas, and Wealden villages use tile-hanging, weatherboarding and timber frames. Interwar suburbs and newer estates fill out most towns.
Regency and Victorian houses often need sash-style windows, stucco or render repair and careful decorating. Hillside terraces suit loft conversions, and flint or brick walls commonly need repointing in lime mortar.
That mix of housing shapes how we approach a new patio in Hove: the age and construction of your home affect the materials, the method and, in the end, the price.
Permissions for a new patio in Hove
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Hove comes under England, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
A ground-level patio in a back garden does not usually need planning permission in England. Raised decks or platforms more than 30 cm high do.
Building Regulations do not normally apply to patios, but levels must stay below the damp-proof course and drain away from the house.
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
It starts with a survey at the property, free of charge. We check condition, access and services, ask how you want the finished result to look, and answer any questions you have about a new patio.
Your fixed price
We put everything into a written, fixed-price quote: the specification, what's excluded, staged payments and the expected time on site. Take whatever time you need to decide; there's no pressure to commit.
Plan and prepare
Preparation matters as much as the build. We agree access, parking and working hours with you, order materials in good time, and confirm any permissions so the job isn't held up once it starts.
Finish and handover
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
What you can expect from us
Patios and paving in Hove: questions
What happens if my garden slopes?
A sloping garden can still have a level patio by cutting into the slope, building up with retaining walls, or creating terraces with steps between them. Retaining walls must be built to hold back the soil and allow drainage behind them. This adds cost but creates usable, level space. We look at the slope during the survey and suggest the most practical design.
How do I clean and look after my patio?
Most patios just need regular sweeping and an occasional wash with water and a mild patio cleaner. Porcelain is the easiest to keep clean. Natural stone benefits from a sealant to reduce staining and from prompt cleaning of spills like oil or wine. Re-point any joints that crack or wash out. Avoid high-pressure jet washing close to joints, which can damage them.
Do I need planning permission in Hove?
It depends on the work, the size of the project, your property type and whether the building is listed or in a conservation area. Hove is in England, so England's rules apply. Many smaller jobs need no planning application, but some still need building control approval. We check what applies to your address before quoting.
Does a patio need planning permission?
Most patios do not need planning permission, but it depends on the size, height and location, your home's position, whether it is listed or in a conservation area, and which UK nation you are in. Raised patios or decking more than a small height above the ground may need permission because of overlooking. We check the position for your garden before quoting.
Can you combine a new patio with other work?
Yes. Because we manage several trades under one contract, we can plan a new patio alongside other work on your Hove 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.
Nearby towns
From BN1, BN3 and BN41 to the edges of Hove and on into Brighton, Portslade and Shoreham-by-Sea, we can arrange a site visit and a written quote for your project, planned around dates that work for you.