What to know before a front garden driveway in Ely
Around Ely, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.
Flat ground across much of the East means falls have to be built in carefully so water does not sit on the drive.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Ely?
In the East of England, a front garden driveway usually costs £90–£145 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £4,450–£7,350. 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 |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £90–£145 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £370–£1,050 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,050–£3,150 |
Guide figures for the East of England, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a front garden driveway involve?
We check those three things before anything else. A typical small front garden needs the boundary wall or hedge opened, the ground dug out, a sub-base built and the surface laid so rain drains into a planted strip or through permeable blocks. Keeping a narrow planted border is often what makes the drainage work.
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
What we check on an Ely survey
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
Planning and kerb rules in Ely
Ely 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.
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.
How we work
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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.
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.
Front garden drives in Ely: questions
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Ely?
Our guide for Ely is £90–£145 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,450–£7,350. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do you cover Newmarket, March and Cambridge?
Yes. We cover Ely and the places around it, including Newmarket, March and Cambridge, and the rest of Cambridgeshire.
How long does a front garden driveway 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.
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.
Front garden drives near Ely
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Cambridgeshire:
- Front garden drives in Newmarket
- Front garden drives in March
- Front garden drives in Cambridge
- Front garden drives in Wisbech
- Front garden drives in Huntingdon
- Front garden drives in Peterborough
Other block paving services in Ely
Or see all block paving services in Ely.
