Planning a block paved patio in Welwyn Garden City
Homes in Welwyn Garden City 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 Welwyn Garden City?
In the East of England, a block paved patio usually costs £85–£145 per m² including VAT. For a 20 m² patio, that is roughly £1,950–£3,400. 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 |
|---|---|
| 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 is included?
Block suits patios that join a block drive or path, small or awkward spaces where large slabs would need too many cuts, and gardens where you want a pattern such as basketweave or a circle feature. We lay patios to fall away from the house and below the damp-proof course, with edging that stops the blocks creeping into the lawn.
- Blocks in your pattern, edges and cuts
- Falls away from the house and doors
- Optional sealer
- Layout marked out with you, including steps and doors
- Jointing sand and compaction
What the survey covers
- Steps, walls and changes of level
- Levels against the damp-proof course and door thresholds
- Where rain will go: falls away from the house, onto lawn or borders, or into a channel
- Access for a mini-digger and how waste leaves the garden
- Edges against lawns, beds, fences and walls
Do you need permission for a block paved patio in Welwyn Garden City?
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.
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.
What you can expect from us
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
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.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Patios in Welwyn Garden City: questions
What happens to my old patio or lawn?
Old slabs, concrete or turf are dug out and taken away, listed as its own line on your quote.
Is the survey in Welwyn Garden City 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.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved patio in Welwyn Garden City?
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.
Can the paving be level with the back door?
Paving normally sits at least 150 mm below the damp-proof course. A level step-out needs a drainage channel against the house and careful detailing, which we agree on the survey.
Patios near Welwyn Garden City
Nearby towns we cover for patios, and patios across Hertfordshire:
- Patios in Hatfield
- Patios in Hertford
- Patios in St Albans
- Patios in Harpenden
- Patios in Stevenage
- Patios in Potters Bar

