What to know before a block paved driveway in Stevenage
Across Stevenage, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
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 Stevenage?
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 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.
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
What the survey covers
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- 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?
Rules for front drives in Stevenage
Stevenage 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
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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Block paved driveways in Stevenage: questions
Do you cover Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City?
Yes. We cover Stevenage and the places around it, including Hitchin, Letchworth Garden City and Welwyn Garden City, and the rest of Hertfordshire.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Stevenage?
Our guide for Stevenage 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.
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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Stevenage?
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.
Block paved driveways near Stevenage
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Hertfordshire:
- Block paved driveways in Hitchin
- Block paved driveways in Letchworth Garden City
- Block paved driveways in Welwyn Garden City
- Block paved driveways in Harpenden
- Block paved driveways in Hertford
- Block paved driveways in Hatfield
