How much does a driveway extension cost in Dorset?
For Dorset, our guide is £90–£150 per m² including VAT, so a 15 m² extension is likely to be £1,550–£2,600. 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 | £90–£150 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £10–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,000–£3,000 |
Guide figures for the South West, checked 9 November 2026.
Towns we cover in Dorset
Choose a town for local prices and details for drive extensions:
What is included?
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 South West is wetter than the east of England, so falls and drainage are planned before the pattern is chosen.
- 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
- Dig-out and sub-base for the new area
- Matching options: same range, re-mixing old and new, or a planned contrast
- Old edge restraint taken out and the new paving toothed into the old pattern
What the survey covers
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
Rules for front drives in Dorset
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.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
How it works
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.
Drive extensions in Dorset: questions
Do I need planning permission for a driveway extension in Dorset?
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. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
Do you cover Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth?
Yes. We cover all of Dorset, including Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth.
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.
Is the survey in Dorset 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.
