Planning a block paved driveway in Purley
Across Purley, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
Many London streets have controlled parking and narrow frontages, so we measure the car space and the crossover before anything else.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Purley?
Most block paved driveway quotes in London fall within £100–£170 per m² including VAT. A 50 m² double drive would usually be about £5,100–£8,400, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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 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.
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
Before we price your block paved driveway
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Do you need permission in Purley?
Purley 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
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
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Block paved driveways in Purley: questions
Can you match the blocks to my house in Purley?
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.
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 you cover South Croydon, Carshalton and Croydon?
Yes. We cover Purley and the places around it, including South Croydon, Carshalton and Croydon, and the rest of Greater London.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Purley?
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 Purley
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Greater London:
- Block paved driveways in South Croydon
- Block paved driveways in Carshalton
- Block paved driveways in Croydon
- Block paved driveways in Sutton
- Block paved driveways in Mitcham
- Block paved driveways in Morden
