What to know before a block paved driveway in Livingston
In Livingston, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within the property whatever its size, so drainage is part of every design.
In Scotland block paving is often called monoblock; it is the same thing, and the same rules for the base, edging and drainage apply.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Livingston?
For Livingston, our guide is £85–£140 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is likely to be £4,250–£7,000. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| 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 Scotland, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our block paved driveways service
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.
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
What the survey covers
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
Planning and kerb rules in Livingston
Livingston is in Scotland, so these rules apply:
In Scotland, a hard surface between the house and the road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a permeable area within the property. There is no 5 m² threshold: the rule applies whatever the size.
Hard surfaces are not permitted development in a conservation area or within the grounds of a listed building, so planning permission is needed there.
A dropped kerb needs consent from your council as roads authority under section 56 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, and planning permission may also be needed depending on the road.
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.
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.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Block paved driveways in Livingston: questions
Is the survey in Livingston 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 Broxburn, Bathgate and Linlithgow?
Yes. We cover Livingston and the places around it, including Broxburn, Bathgate and Linlithgow, and the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians.
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 Livingston?
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within your boundary at any size, and permitted development does not apply in conservation areas. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
Block paved driveways near Livingston
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Edinburgh and the Lothians:
- Block paved driveways in Broxburn
- Block paved driveways in Bathgate
- Block paved driveways in Linlithgow
- Block paved driveways in Whitburn
- Block paved driveways in Armadale
- Block paved driveways in Penicuik
