Planning a driveway extension in Eltham
Homes in Eltham include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Front gardens in much of London are short, so parking depth and the dropped kerb usually decide whether a drive is possible.
How much does a driveway extension cost in Eltham?
In London, a driveway extension usually costs £110–£180 per m² including VAT. For a 15 m² extension, that is roughly £1,850–£3,100. 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 |
|---|---|
| Driveway extension in block paving | £110–£180 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £12–£50 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £25–£60 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £420–£1,200 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,200–£3,600 |
Guide figures for London, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
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.
- 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
- Dig-out and sub-base for the new area
- Check of the existing drive: block range, thickness, levels and condition
What the survey covers
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Rules for front drives in Eltham
Eltham is in England, so these rules apply:
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.
What happens next
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.
How we work
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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 Eltham: questions
How much does a driveway extension cost in Eltham?
Our guide for Eltham is £110–£180 per m² including VAT, so a 15 m² extension is usually about £1,850–£3,100. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do you cover Welling, Catford and Greenwich?
Yes. We cover Eltham and the places around it, including Welling, Catford and Greenwich, and the rest of Greater London.
How long does a driveway extension take to build?
Most homes take between three and seven working days, depending on size, the dig and the drainage. Your quote gives the expected duration.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Eltham?
We bring samples to the survey and suggest blocks and borders that suit the age and brick of the house. Final colour is your choice.
Drive extensions near Eltham
Nearby towns we cover for drive extensions, and drive extensions across Greater London:
- Drive extensions in Welling
- Drive extensions in Catford
- Drive extensions in Greenwich
- Drive extensions in Bexley
- Drive extensions in Beckenham
- Drive extensions in Canning Town
