What to know before a block paved patio in Preston
Across Preston, gardens range from narrow terrace plots to wide modern ones, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
The North West is one of the wetter parts of England, so falls, channel drains and permeable options matter more than usual.
How much does a block paved patio cost in Preston?
In the North West, a block paved patio usually costs £80–£140 per m² including VAT. For a 20 m² patio, that is roughly £1,850–£3,200. 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) | £80–£140 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £10–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Step with block or brick riser and paved tread | £180–£350 per step |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
Guide figures for the North West, 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.
- Dig-out and compacted sub-base (around 100 mm for foot traffic)
- Blocks in your pattern, edges and cuts
- Falls away from the house and doors
- Layout marked out with you, including steps and doors
- Optional sealer
Before we price your block paved patio
- Outside taps, lights and cables
- Steps, walls and changes of level
- Trees and roots near the paving
- Ground conditions and how deep the dig must be
- Block range, colour, pattern and border to suit the house
Do you need permission for a block paved patio in Preston?
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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
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.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Patios in Preston: questions
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.
Do you cover Leyland, Chorley and Blackburn?
Yes. We cover Preston and the places around it, including Leyland, Chorley and Blackburn, and the rest of Lancashire.
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.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved patio in Preston?
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.
Patios near Preston
Nearby towns we cover for patios, and patios across Lancashire:
- Patios in Leyland
- Patios in Chorley
- Patios in Blackburn
- Patios in Darwen
- Patios in Lytham St Annes
- Patios in Accrington
