Driveway Extensions in Block Paving

What does a driveway extension involve?

A driveway extension adds paving to an existing drive, usually to fit a second car by taking in part of the front lawn, or to lengthen a drive towards the house or garage. The new section is built on its own sub-base and tied into the old paving so the two act as one surface.

The hard part is the join. Blocks from the same range can differ in shade from a batch made years ago, and older blocks have weathered, so the survey looks at whether a close match is possible, whether lifting and re-mixing some existing blocks will help, or whether a deliberate border or contrasting panel will look better than a near-miss.

What is included?

Check of the existing drive: block range, thickness, levels and condition
Matching options: same range, re-mixing old and new, or a planned contrast
Dig-out and sub-base for the new area
Old edge restraint taken out and the new paving toothed into the old pattern
New edging, kerbs or a low retaining edge where the lawn is cut back
Joint sand, compaction and a clean-down of the old section

Which options are there?

Matched extension

Same range and pattern, toothed in so the join follows the pattern rather than a straight line.

Contrast panel

A border or a different colour for the new area, framed so it looks intended.

Extend and refresh

Extension plus a clean, re-sand and seal of the old drive so old and new look closer.

How much does a driveway extension cost?

UK guide price£90–£150 per m² inc VATIncluding VAT at 20%

For a 15 m² extension in the Midlands, that typically comes to £1,550–£2,600. London and the South East cost more, the North East, Yorkshire and Wales a little less. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.

Region	Guide price inc VAT
London	£110–£180 per m²
South East	£95–£160 per m²
East of England	£95–£160 per m²
South West	£90–£150 per m²
West Midlands	£90–£150 per m²
East Midlands	£90–£150 per m²
North West	£90–£150 per m²
Yorkshire and the Humber	£80–£135 per m²
North East	£80–£135 per m²
Wales	£85–£140 per m²
Scotland	£90–£150 per m²
Northern Ireland	£85–£145 per m²

Guide figures checked 9 November 2026. Your written quote after the survey is the price you pay. See the full price list or try the guide price tool.

Is a driveway extension right for you?

Good for

Adding a second parking space
Making room for an electric vehicle charger cable route
Tidying a lawn strip that never grows

Think twice if

Where the dropped kerb would also need widening but the council will not approve it
Drives that are failing underneath (re-laying may be the better job)

How does it work?

Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.

Do you need permission?

Front-garden paving and dropped kerbs follow different rules in each part of the UK:

Front drive rules in England

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.

Front drive rules in Wales

In Wales, any new or replacement hard surface at the front of a house should be permeable or drain to a permeable area within the property to avoid needing planning permission. Unlike England, there is no 5 m² allowance for new paving; only repairs of up to 5 m² of existing surface are exempt.

Since January 2019, construction work covering 100 m² or more with drainage implications, including drives and patios, needs approval from the local SuDS Approving Body (SAB) before work starts, even where planning permission is not needed.

A dropped kerb needs your council's approval as highway authority, and a new access onto a classified road needs planning permission.

Front drive rules in Scotland

In Scotland, a hard surface between the house and the road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a permeable area within the property. There is no 5 m² threshold: the rule applies whatever the size.

Hard surfaces are not permitted development in a conservation area or within the grounds of a listed building, so planning permission is needed there.

A dropped kerb needs consent from your council as roads authority under section 56 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, and planning permission may also be needed depending on the road.

Front drive rules in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, a hard surface between the front of the house and the road that covers or replaces more than 5 m² must be porous or permeable, or drain to a permeable area within the property, to be permitted development.

Hard surfaces within the grounds of a listed building need listed building consent. Planning is handled by your district council, so check with its planning office if you are unsure.

Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland are approved by DfI Roads (the Department for Infrastructure), not the council; check planning separately with the council.

Questions about drive extensions

Will the new blocks match my old drive?

Sometimes closely, sometimes not, because blocks weather and production batches vary. The survey will tell you honestly and suggest a planned border or contrast where a match is unlikely.

Do I need a wider dropped kerb for a wider drive?

If cars will cross the pavement in a new place, yes: the kerb must be dropped there and that needs the highway authority's approval. Driving over a full-height kerb is not allowed.

Does extending a drive need planning permission?

The same rules as a new front drive apply to the new area. In England, 5 m² or less, or a permeable surface, or one draining to a lawn or border, needs no permission; the other nations differ, so see our planning guide.

How is the new section joined to the old?

The old edging is removed and the new blocks are toothed into the existing pattern so there is no straight weak line, then the whole area is compacted together.

Where do you offer driveway extensions?

We quote driveway extensions across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.

Block paved driveway extensions

What does a driveway extension involve?

What is included?