What to know before a block paved driveway in Rhiwbina
Around Rhiwbina, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.
Wales is wetter than most of England, and new front paving has to be permeable or drain within the property, so drainage is designed in from the start.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Rhiwbina?
For Rhiwbina, our guide is £80–£130 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is likely to be £3,950–£6,500. 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 | £80–£130 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9.50–£35 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£45 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£930 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £930–£2,800 |
Guide figures for Wales, 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.
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
What we check on a Rhiwbina survey
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
Planning and kerb rules in Rhiwbina
Rhiwbina is in Wales, so these rules apply:
In Wales, any new or replacement hard surface at the front of a house should be permeable or drain to a permeable area within the property to avoid needing planning permission. Unlike England, there is no 5 m² allowance for new paving; only repairs of up to 5 m² of existing surface are exempt.
Since January 2019, construction work covering 100 m² or more with drainage implications, including drives and patios, needs approval from the local SuDS Approving Body (SAB) before work starts, even where planning permission is not needed.
A dropped kerb needs your council's approval as highway authority, and a new access onto a classified road 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
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Block paved driveways in Rhiwbina: questions
Can you match the blocks to my house in Rhiwbina?
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 I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Rhiwbina?
In Wales, new front paving should be permeable or drain within your boundary to avoid planning permission, and drives of 100 m² or more need SuDS approval. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Rhiwbina?
Our guide for Rhiwbina is £80–£130 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £3,950–£6,500. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do you cover Cardiff, Penarth and Dinas Powys?
Yes. We cover Rhiwbina and the places around it, including Cardiff, Penarth and Dinas Powys, and the rest of South Glamorgan.
Block paved driveways near Rhiwbina
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across South Glamorgan:
- Block paved driveways in Cardiff
- Block paved driveways in Penarth
- Block paved driveways in Dinas Powys
- Block paved driveways in Barry
- Block paved driveways in Llantwit Major
