What to know before a block paved driveway in Consett
Consett is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Former colliery ground and clay soils occur across the North East, so the survey checks for soft spots before the sub-base depth is set.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Consett?
Guide price in Consett: £75–£125 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £3,850–£6,300. These are North East guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £75–£125 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9–£35 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £18–£45 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £320–£900 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £900–£2,700 |
Guide figures for the North 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
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
What we check on a Consett survey
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
Rules for front drives in Consett
Consett 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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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.
How we work
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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.
Block paved driveways in Consett: questions
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.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Consett?
Our guide for Consett is £75–£125 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £3,850–£6,300. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Is the survey in Consett 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 Stanley, Chester-le-Street and Durham?
Yes. We cover Consett and the places around it, including Stanley, Chester-le-Street and Durham, and the rest of County Durham.
Block paved driveways near Consett
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across County Durham:
- Block paved driveways in Stanley
- Block paved driveways in Chester-le-Street
- Block paved driveways in Durham
- Block paved driveways in Bishop Auckland
- Block paved driveways in Newton Aycliffe
- Block paved driveways in Seaham
