What to know before a block paved driveway in Belfast
Belfast has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Belfast?
Guide price in Belfast: £80–£135 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £4,050–£6,650. These are Northern Ireland guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £80–£135 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9.50–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£950 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £950–£2,850 |
Guide figures for Northern Ireland, 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.
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
What we check on a Belfast survey
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
Planning and kerb rules in Belfast
Belfast is in Northern Ireland, so these rules apply:
In Northern Ireland, a hard surface between the front of the house and the road that covers or replaces more than 5 m² must be porous or permeable, or drain to a permeable area within the property, to be permitted development.
Hard surfaces within the grounds of a listed building need listed building consent. Planning is handled by your district council, so check with its planning office if you are unsure.
Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland are approved by DfI Roads (the Department for Infrastructure), not the council; check planning separately with the council.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
From enquiry to finished paving
Send the basics
Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.
Survey
We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.
Written quote
An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.
The work
Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Block paved driveways in Belfast: questions
Is the survey in Belfast 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 I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Belfast?
In Northern Ireland, front paving over 5 m² must be porous or drain within your boundary to be permitted development. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Belfast?
Our guide for Belfast is £80–£135 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,050–£6,650. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Belfast?
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.
Block paved driveways near Belfast
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across County Antrim:
- Block paved driveways in Castlereagh
- Block paved driveways in Newtownabbey
- Block paved driveways in Lisburn
- Block paved driveways in Carrickfergus
- Block paved driveways in Ballyclare
- Block paved driveways in Antrim
