How much does a block paved driveway cost in Tyne and Wear?
Expect block paved driveways in Tyne and Wear to come in at around £75–£125 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 50 m² double drive usually comes to between £3,850 and £6,300.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £75–£125 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9–£35 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £18–£45 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £320–£900 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £900–£2,700 |
Guide figures for the North East, checked 9 November 2026.
Towns we cover in Tyne and Wear
Choose a town for local prices and details for block paved driveways:
- Newcastle upon Tyne
- Sunderland
- South Shields
- Washington
- Tynemouth
- Wallsend
- Newburn
- Whitley Bay
- Houghton-le-Spring
- Felling
- Jarrow
- Gosforth
- Hebburn
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.
Wind-driven rain on the North East coast makes falls and a well-filled joint more important.
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- 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
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Trees and roots near the drive
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
Rules for front drives in Tyne and Wear
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
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.
Block paved driveways in Tyne and Wear: questions
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Tyne and Wear?
Our guide for Tyne and Wear is £75–£125 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £3,850–£6,300. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Tyne and Wear?
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.
Do you cover Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and South Shields?
Yes. We cover all of Tyne and Wear, including Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and South Shields.
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.
