Planning a block paved driveway in Birmingham
Birmingham has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
Clay ground is widespread in the West Midlands, so the sub-base depth and drainage are checked on every survey.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Birmingham?
In the West Midlands, a block paved driveway usually costs £85–£140 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £4,250–£7,000. 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 | £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 West Midlands, 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.
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
- 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 the survey covers
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
Rules for front drives in Birmingham
Birmingham 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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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.
How we work
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.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Block paved driveways in Birmingham: questions
Can you match the blocks to my house in Birmingham?
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.
Is the survey in Birmingham 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.
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.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Birmingham?
Our guide for Birmingham is £85–£140 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,250–£7,000. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Block paved driveways near Birmingham
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across West Midlands:
- Block paved driveways in Aston
- Block paved driveways in Smethwick
- Block paved driveways in Washwood Heath
- Block paved driveways in Acocks Green
- Block paved driveways in West Bromwich
- Block paved driveways in Bartley Green
