Block paving driveways in Ilkeston: the local picture
In Ilkeston, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Block drives laid twenty or thirty years ago are often ready for re-laying rather than replacing, because sound blocks outlast a weak base.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Ilkeston?
Guide price in Ilkeston: £85–£140 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £4,250–£7,000. These are East Midlands guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £85–£140 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £10–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,000–£3,000 |
Guide figures for the East Midlands, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our block paved driveways service
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.
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
Before we price your block paved driveway
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
Do you need permission in Ilkeston?
Ilkeston 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
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
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.
Block paved driveways in Ilkeston: questions
How long does a block paved driveway take to build?
Most homes take between three and seven working days, depending on size, the dig and the drainage. Your quote gives the expected duration.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Ilkeston?
Our guide for Ilkeston is £85–£140 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,250–£7,000. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do you cover Heanor, Long Eaton and Ripley?
Yes. We cover Ilkeston and the places around it, including Heanor, Long Eaton and Ripley, and the rest of Derbyshire.
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.
Block paved driveways near Ilkeston
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Derbyshire:
- Block paved driveways in Heanor
- Block paved driveways in Long Eaton
- Block paved driveways in Ripley
- Block paved driveways in Derby
- Block paved driveways in Belper
- Block paved driveways in Alfreton

