What to know before a block paved driveway in Great Malvern
Homes in Great Malvern include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Inter-war semis with narrow front gardens are common in the West Midlands, so front garden conversions and drive widenings are often the practical choice.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Great Malvern?
Guide price in Great Malvern: £85–£140 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £4,250–£7,000. These are West Midlands guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| 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.
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Cuts at edges, around covers and against the house
- Blocks laid in your chosen pattern, with a contrasting border if wanted
What we check on a Great Malvern survey
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
Planning and kerb rules in Great Malvern
Great Malvern 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
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.
What you can expect from us
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Block paved driveways in Great Malvern: 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.
Is the survey in Great Malvern 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Great Malvern?
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 you cover Worcester, Droitwich and Stourport-on-Severn?
Yes. We cover Great Malvern and the places around it, including Worcester, Droitwich and Stourport-on-Severn, and the rest of Worcestershire.
Block paved driveways near Great Malvern
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Worcestershire:
- Block paved driveways in Worcester
- Block paved driveways in Droitwich
- Block paved driveways in Stourport-on-Severn
- Block paved driveways in Evesham
- Block paved driveways in Bromsgrove
- Block paved driveways in Kidderminster
