Planning a front garden driveway in Ellesmere Port
In Ellesmere Port, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
The North West is one of the wetter parts of England, so falls, channel drains and permeable options matter more than usual.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Ellesmere Port?
Expect front garden driveways in Ellesmere Port to come in at around £85–£140 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 50 m² double drive usually comes to between £4,250 and £7,000.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £85–£140 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 North West, 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.
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
What we check on an Ellesmere Port survey
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
Do you need permission in Ellesmere Port?
Ellesmere Port 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.
How it works
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
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Front garden drives in Ellesmere Port: questions
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 I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Ellesmere Port?
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.
Is the survey in Ellesmere Port 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.
Do you cover Chester, Runcorn and Widnes?
Yes. We cover Ellesmere Port and the places around it, including Chester, Runcorn and Widnes, and the rest of Cheshire.
Front garden drives near Ellesmere Port
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Cheshire:
- Front garden drives in Chester
- Front garden drives in Runcorn
- Front garden drives in Widnes
- Front garden drives in Warrington
- Front garden drives in Northwich
- Front garden drives in Winsford
