What to know before a block paved driveway in Harlow
Harlow has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
Clay soils are common in parts of the East of England, so drainage and sub-base depth get extra attention.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Harlow?
Guide price in Harlow: £90–£145 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £4,450–£7,350. These are East of England guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £90–£145 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £370–£1,050 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,050–£3,150 |
Guide figures for the East of England, 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
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
Before we price your block paved driveway
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
Rules for front drives in Harlow
Harlow 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.
How we work
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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.
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 Harlow: questions
Can you match the blocks to my house in Harlow?
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.
Is the survey in Harlow 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.
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.
Do you cover Waltham Abbey, Loughton and Brentwood?
Yes. We cover Harlow and the places around it, including Waltham Abbey, Loughton and Brentwood, and the rest of Essex.
Block paved driveways near Harlow
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Essex:
- Block paved driveways in Waltham Abbey
- Block paved driveways in Loughton
- Block paved driveways in Brentwood
- Block paved driveways in Chelmsford
- Block paved driveways in Billericay
- Block paved driveways in South Ockendon
