What to know before a block paved driveway in Coventry
Across Coventry, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
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 Coventry?
Expect block paved driveways in Coventry to come in at around £85–£140 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 50 m² double drive usually comes to between £4,250 and £7,000.
| 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?
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
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
What we check on a Coventry survey
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
Planning and kerb rules in Coventry
Coventry 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
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.
What you can expect from us
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Block paved driveways in Coventry: questions
Do you cover Solihull, Shirley and Acocks Green?
Yes. We cover Coventry and the places around it, including Solihull, Shirley and Acocks Green, and the rest of the West Midlands.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Coventry?
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.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Coventry?
Our guide for Coventry 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Coventry?
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.
Block paved driveways near Coventry
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across West Midlands:
- Block paved driveways in Solihull
- Block paved driveways in Shirley
- Block paved driveways in Acocks Green
- Block paved driveways in Washwood Heath
- Block paved driveways in Aston
- Block paved driveways in Sutton Coldfield
