What to know before a block paved driveway in Hitchin
Homes in Hitchin include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
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 Hitchin?
In the East of England, a block paved driveway usually costs £90–£145 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £4,450–£7,350. 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 | £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 is included?
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.
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
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?
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Do you need permission in Hitchin?
Hitchin 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.
How we work
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Block paved driveways in Hitchin: questions
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Hitchin?
Our guide for Hitchin is £90–£145 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,450–£7,350. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Hitchin?
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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Hitchin?
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 you cover Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Harpenden?
Yes. We cover Hitchin and the places around it, including Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Harpenden, and the rest of Hertfordshire.
Block paved driveways near Hitchin
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Hertfordshire:
- Block paved driveways in Letchworth Garden City
- Block paved driveways in Stevenage
- Block paved driveways in Harpenden
- Block paved driveways in Welwyn Garden City
- Block paved driveways in Hatfield
- Block paved driveways in Hertford
