What to know before a block paved driveway in Earley
In Earley, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Planning-sensitive towns and conservation areas are common in the South East, so we check the front-garden rules before quoting.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Earley?
Guide price in Earley: £90–£150 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £4,600–£7,550. These are South East guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £90–£150 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£45 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £380–£1,100 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,100–£3,250 |
Guide figures for the South East, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
A block paved driveway is a surface of small concrete or clay blocks laid tightly on a bed of sharp sand, held in by a fixed edge and locked together with kiln-dried jointing sand. Laid on a properly dug and compacted sub-base, it carries cars for decades, and a single damaged block can be lifted and replaced without breaking the surface.
- Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
What the survey covers
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
Rules for front drives in Earley
Earley is in England, so these rules apply:
In England, paving in front of the house that covers more than 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway inside your boundary. Permeable block paving, or standard blocks laid to fall onto a planted strip, avoid the need for permission in most cases.
Flats and maisonettes, listed buildings, and homes covered by an Article 4 direction can have tighter rules, and conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes restrict some permitted development.
A dropped kerb needs your local highway authority's approval (usually the county, unitary, metropolitan or London borough council), and a new access onto an A, B or C classified road also needs planning permission.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
What happens next
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
What you can expect from us
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Block paved driveways in Earley: questions
Do you cover Reading, Wokingham and Crowthorne?
Yes. We cover Earley and the places around it, including Reading, Wokingham and Crowthorne, and the rest of Berkshire.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Earley?
We bring samples to the survey and suggest blocks and borders that suit the age and brick of the house. Final colour is your choice.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Earley?
Our guide for Earley is £90–£150 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,600–£7,550. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Is the survey in Earley free?
Yes, for new paving here: the survey and written quote are free with no obligation. Repairs and cleaning are usually priced from photos, or from a short visit where needed.
Block paved driveways near Earley
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Berkshire:
- Block paved driveways in Reading
- Block paved driveways in Wokingham
- Block paved driveways in Crowthorne
- Block paved driveways in Bracknell
- Block paved driveways in Sandhurst
- Block paved driveways in Maidenhead
