What to know before a block paved patio in Dunstable
Homes in Dunstable include plenty of semis and detached houses with gardens big enough for a patio and a path to the gate.
Clay soils are common in parts of the East of England, so drainage and sub-base depth get extra attention.
How much does a block paved patio cost in Dunstable?
For Dunstable, our guide is £85–£145 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² patio is likely to be £1,950–£3,400. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Block paved patio (concrete block) | £85–£145 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Step with block or brick riser and paved tread | £190–£370 per step |
| Typical channel drain run | £370–£1,050 |
Guide figures for the East of England, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our patios service
A block paved patio is a garden seating or dining area paved with concrete or clay blocks on a compacted base. Because a patio carries people and furniture rather than cars, the sub-base is thinner than for a drive, but the falls, edging and drainage matter just as much.
- Optional sealer
- Blocks in your pattern, edges and cuts
- Falls away from the house and doors
- Jointing sand and compaction
- Dig-out and compacted sub-base (around 100 mm for foot traffic)
Before we price your block paved patio
- Manhole and inspection covers in the area
- Edges against lawns, beds, fences and walls
- Trees and roots near the paving
- Where rain will go: falls away from the house, onto lawn or borders, or into a channel
- Levels against the damp-proof course and door thresholds
Do you need permission for a block paved patio in Dunstable?
A patio or path behind the house does not usually need planning permission. Raised patios, listed buildings and flats can be different, so we check on the survey.
Paving in front of the house follows the front-garden rules: 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.
How it works
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.
How we work
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Patios in Dunstable: questions
How much does a block paved patio cost in Dunstable?
Our guide for Dunstable is £85–£145 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² patio is usually about £1,950–£3,400. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved patio in Dunstable?
Not usually for a patio or path behind the house. Raised patios, listed buildings and flats can be different, and paving in front of the house follows the front-garden rules. 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.
Do you cover Luton, Leighton Buzzard and Ampthill?
Yes. We cover Dunstable and the places around it, including Luton, Leighton Buzzard and Ampthill, and the rest of Bedfordshire.
Is the survey in Dunstable 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.
Patios near Dunstable
Nearby towns we cover for patios, and patios across Bedfordshire:
