What to know before a block paved driveway in Canning Town
Canning Town is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Front gardens in much of London are short, so parking depth and the dropped kerb usually decide whether a drive is possible.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Canning Town?
In London, a block paved driveway usually costs £100–£170 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £5,100–£8,400. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.
| Item | Guide 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. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a block paved driveway involve?
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.
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
- Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
What we check on a Canning Town survey
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Do you need permission in Canning Town?
Canning Town 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
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
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.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Block paved driveways in Canning Town: questions
Do you cover Stratford, Canary Wharf and Greenwich?
Yes. We cover Canning Town and the places around it, including Stratford, Canary Wharf and Greenwich, and the rest of Greater London.
Is the survey in Canning Town 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Canning Town?
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.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Canning Town?
Our guide for Canning Town 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.
Block paved driveways near Canning Town
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Greater London:
- Block paved driveways in Stratford
- Block paved driveways in Canary Wharf
- Block paved driveways in Greenwich
- Block paved driveways in Barking
- Block paved driveways in Ilford
- Block paved driveways in Leytonstone
