Block paved driveways in Bishop's Stortford

Block paving driveways in Bishop's Stortford: the local picture

In Bishop's Stortford, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.

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 Bishop's Stortford?

Guide price in Bishop's Stortford£90–£145 per m²Including VAT at 20%

For Bishop's Stortford, our guide is £90–£145 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is likely to be £4,450–£7,350. 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	£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.

Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor

What the survey covers

Trees and roots near the drive
Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
Steps, thresholds and door heights
Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours

Rules for front drives in Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford 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.

How it works

Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.

Why choose Block Paving Contractors

Edges set in concrete

Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.

Clean finish

The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.

Water planned first

Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.

Itemised quotes

Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.