Planning a block paved patio in Bicester
Homes in Bicester include plenty of semis and detached houses with gardens big enough for a patio and a path to the gate.
Chalk, clay and sandy ground all occur across the South East, so the dig and sub-base depth are set on the survey rather than assumed.
How much does a block paved patio cost in Bicester?
For Bicester, our guide is £85–£150 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² patio is likely to be £2,000–£3,500. 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–£150 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£45 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Step with block or brick riser and paved tread | £195–£380 per step |
| Typical channel drain run | £380–£1,100 |
Guide figures for the South East, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a block paved patio involve?
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
- Optional sealer
- Dig-out and compacted sub-base (around 100 mm for foot traffic)
- Layout marked out with you, including steps and doors
- Falls away from the house and doors
What we check on a Bicester survey
- Trees and roots near the paving
- Access for a mini-digger and how waste leaves the garden
- Levels against the damp-proof course and door thresholds
- Steps, walls and changes of level
- Outside taps, lights and cables
Do you need permission for a block paved patio in Bicester?
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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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.
Patios in Bicester: questions
Do I need planning permission for a block paved patio in Bicester?
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.
How long does a block paved patio take?
Most patios and paths take two to five working days, depending on the size, any steps and the dig. Your quote gives the expected duration.
Is the survey in Bicester 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 Bicester
Nearby towns we cover for patios, and patios across Oxfordshire:
