What to know before a driveway extension in Ballymena
In Ballymena, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland go through DfI Roads, so we build that timing into the plan for new drives.
How much does a driveway extension cost in Ballymena?
For Ballymena, our guide is £85–£145 per m² including VAT, so a 15 m² extension is likely to be £1,450–£2,450. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Driveway extension in block paving | £85–£145 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9.50–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£950 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £950–£2,850 |
Guide figures for Northern Ireland, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a driveway extension involve?
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.
- Old edge restraint taken out and the new paving toothed into the old pattern
- Dig-out and sub-base for the new area
- Check of the existing drive: block range, thickness, levels and condition
- Joint sand, compaction and a clean-down of the old section
- New edging, kerbs or a low retaining edge where the lawn is cut back
What we check on a Ballymena survey
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
Rules for front drives in Ballymena
Ballymena is in Northern Ireland, so these rules apply:
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.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
From enquiry to finished paving
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
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.
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.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Drive extensions in Ballymena: questions
Do I need planning permission for a driveway extension in Ballymena?
In Northern Ireland, front paving over 5 m² must be porous or drain within your boundary to be permitted development. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
What happens to my old drive?
It is broken out and taken away by skip or grab lorry, listed as its own line on your quote.
Do you cover Antrim, Ballyclare and Ballymoney?
Yes. We cover Ballymena and the places around it, including Antrim, Ballyclare and Ballymoney, and the rest of County Antrim.
How much does a driveway extension cost in Ballymena?
Our guide for Ballymena is £85–£145 per m² including VAT, so a 15 m² extension is usually about £1,450–£2,450. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Drive extensions near Ballymena
Nearby towns we cover for drive extensions, and drive extensions across County Antrim:
- Drive extensions in Antrim
- Drive extensions in Ballyclare
- Drive extensions in Ballymoney
- Drive extensions in Larne
- Drive extensions in Newtownabbey
- Drive extensions in Carrickfergus
