Block paving driveways in Cheltenham: the local picture
Cheltenham has a big mix of housing, from older terraces near the centre to newer estates further out, so no two drives here start from the same ground.
The South West is wetter than the east of England, so falls and drainage are planned before the pattern is chosen.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Cheltenham?
For Cheltenham, 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 the South West, 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.
- Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
- 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 the survey covers
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
Rules for front drives in Cheltenham
Cheltenham 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
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
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Block paved driveways in Cheltenham: questions
Do you cover Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Stroud?
Yes. We cover Cheltenham and the places around it, including Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Stroud, and the rest of Gloucestershire.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Cheltenham?
Our guide for Cheltenham 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.
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 Cheltenham?
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 Cheltenham
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Gloucestershire:
- Block paved driveways in Tewkesbury
- Block paved driveways in Gloucester
- Block paved driveways in Stroud
- Block paved driveways in Cirencester
