England · Block paved driveways

Block paving driveways in Greater London

Block paving suits homes in Greater London because it can be repaired a block at a time and looks right for decades when the base underneath is built properly.

  • 56 towns listed
  • £100–£170 per m² inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Silver-grey herringbone block paved driveway with a charcoal border in front of a detached house

How much does a block paved driveway cost in Greater London?

Guide price in Greater London£100–£170 per m²Including VAT at 20%

Guide price in Greater London: £100–£170 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £5,100–£8,400. These are London guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.

ItemGuide price inc VAT
Concrete block driveway, new sub-base£100–£170 per m²
Breaking out an old surface£12–£50 per m²
Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched£25–£60 per metre
Typical channel drain run£420–£1,200
Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction£1,200–£3,600

Guide figures for London, checked 9 November 2026.

Towns we cover in Greater London

Choose a town for local prices and details for block paved driveways:

What does a block paved driveway involve?

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.

Many London streets have controlled parking and narrow frontages, so we measure the car space and the crossover before anything else.

  • Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
  • Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
  • Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
  • Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
  • Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote

What the survey covers

  • Whether front-garden planning rules apply
  • Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
  • Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
  • Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
  • Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them

Rules for front drives in Greater London

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.

How it works

  1. Send the basics

    Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.

  2. Survey

    We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.

  3. Written quote

    An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.

  4. The work

    Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.

Block paved driveways in Greater London: questions

How much does a block paved driveway cost in Greater London?

Our guide for Greater London is £100–£170 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £5,100–£8,400. Your fixed price follows the survey.

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.

Can you match the blocks to my house in Greater London?

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.

Do I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Greater London?

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.

Neighbouring areas

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Answer four quick questions for an instant guide price, then book a free survey to fix it in writing. Repairs and cleaning can often be priced from photos.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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