Planning a block paved driveway in Formby
Formby is a smaller town, and many of its homes have more frontage to work with than city houses, which leaves room for borders and planting.
The North West is one of the wetter parts of England, so falls, channel drains and permeable options matter more than usual.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Formby?
Guide price in Formby: £85–£140 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £4,250–£7,000. These are North West guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £85–£140 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £10–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,000–£3,000 |
Guide figures for the North West, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
We build block drives for homeowners from scratch: digging out the old surface, setting edge restraints in concrete, building and compacting the sub-base, screeding the laying course, laying the pattern, cutting in the edges and vibrating the blocks into the sand. Every quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness, the edging, the falls and where the water goes.
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
Before we price your block paved driveway
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Trees and roots near the drive
Do you need permission in Formby?
Formby 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.
How we work
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Block paved driveways in Formby: questions
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 Maghull, Southport and Bootle?
Yes. We cover Formby and the places around it, including Maghull, Southport and Bootle, and the rest of Merseyside.
How long does a block paved driveway take to build?
Most homes take between three and seven working days, depending on size, the dig and the drainage. Your quote gives the expected duration.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Formby?
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 Formby
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Merseyside:
- Block paved driveways in Maghull
- Block paved driveways in Southport
- Block paved driveways in Bootle
- Block paved driveways in Kirkby
- Block paved driveways in Wallasey
- Block paved driveways in Liverpool
