Block paved driveways Ely – Guide Prices & Survey

Planning a block paved driveway in Ely

Around Ely, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.

Clay soils are common in parts of the East of England, so drainage and sub-base depth get extra attention.

How much does a block paved driveway cost in Ely?

Guide price in Ely£90–£145 per m²Including VAT at 20%

In the East of England, a block paved driveway usually costs £90–£145 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £4,450–£7,350. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.

Item	Guide price inc VAT
Concrete block driveway, new sub-base	£90–£145 per m²
Breaking out an old surface	£11–£40 per m²
Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched	£20–£55 per metre
Typical channel drain run	£370–£1,050
Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction	£1,050–£3,150

Guide figures for the East of England, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.

What does a block paved driveway involve?

We build block drives for homeowners from scratch: digging out the old surface, setting edge restraints in concrete, building and compacting the sub-base, screeding the laying course, laying the pattern, cutting in the edges and vibrating the blocks into the sand. Every quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness, the edging, the falls and where the water goes.

Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls

What we check on an Ely survey

Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
Whether front-garden planning rules apply
Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
Trees and roots near the drive

Planning and kerb rules in Ely

Ely 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

Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.

Why choose Block Paving Contractors

Honest timescales

We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.

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.

Itemised quotes

Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.

Block paved driveways in Ely: questions

Do I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Ely?

In England, a front drive over 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn or border within your boundary. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.

What happens to my old drive?

It is broken out and taken away by skip or grab lorry, listed as its own line on your quote.

Is the survey in Ely 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.

Do you cover Newmarket, March and Cambridge?

Yes. We cover Ely and the places around it, including Newmarket, March and Cambridge, and the rest of Cambridgeshire.

Block paved driveways near Ely

Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Cambridgeshire:

Other block paving services in Ely

Or see all block paving services in Ely.

Block paving driveways in Ely