Planning a block paved driveway in South Shields
Across South Shields, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
Wind-driven rain on the North East coast makes falls and a well-filled joint more important.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in South Shields?
Guide price in South Shields: £75–£125 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £3,850–£6,300. These are North East guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| 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. 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.
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Kiln-dried sand brushed in and the surface vibrated with a plate compactor
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
- Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
What we check on a South Shields survey
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
Rules for front drives in South Shields
South Shields 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
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
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
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.
Block paved driveways in South Shields: 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in South Shields?
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.
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.
Is the survey in South Shields free?
Yes, for new paving here: the survey and written quote are free with no obligation. Repairs and cleaning are usually priced from photos, or from a short visit where needed.
Block paved driveways near South Shields
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Tyne and Wear:
- Block paved driveways in Tynemouth
- Block paved driveways in Jarrow
- Block paved driveways in Whitley Bay
- Block paved driveways in Hebburn
- Block paved driveways in Wallsend
- Block paved driveways in Felling
