What to know before a block paved driveway in Durham
Durham is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Wind-driven rain on the North East coast makes falls and a well-filled joint more important.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Durham?
Most block paved driveway quotes in the North East fall within £75–£125 per m² including VAT. A 50 m² double drive would usually be about £3,850–£6,300, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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?
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.
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
What the survey covers
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
Rules for front drives in Durham
Durham 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
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
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
One point of contact
You deal with one team from survey to sign-off, with work carried out by paving teams working under S&K.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Block paved driveways in Durham: questions
Do you cover Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Bishop Auckland?
Yes. We cover Durham and the places around it, including Chester-le-Street, Stanley and Bishop Auckland, and the rest of County Durham.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Durham?
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.
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.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Durham?
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.
Block paved driveways near Durham
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across County Durham:
- Block paved driveways in Chester-le-Street
- Block paved driveways in Stanley
- Block paved driveways in Bishop Auckland
- Block paved driveways in Peterlee
- Block paved driveways in Seaham
- Block paved driveways in Newton Aycliffe
