Front garden to driveway conversions in Antrim: the local picture
Around Antrim, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.
Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Antrim?
Most front garden driveway quotes in Northern Ireland fall within £80–£135 per m² including VAT. A 50 m² double drive would usually be about £4,050–£6,650, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £80–£135 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 is included?
A front garden conversion turns a lawn or small front garden into off-street parking. For terraces and semis without a drive, it is often the single most useful change to the house, but it only works if a car fits, the water has somewhere to go and the council will drop the kerb.
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
What the survey covers
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
Rules for front drives in Antrim
Antrim 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.
How it works
Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Front garden drives in Antrim: questions
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Antrim?
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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Antrim?
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.
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.
Do you cover Ballyclare, Ballymena and Newtownabbey?
Yes. We cover Antrim and the places around it, including Ballyclare, Ballymena and Newtownabbey, and the rest of County Antrim.
Front garden drives near Antrim
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across County Antrim:
- Front garden drives in Ballyclare
- Front garden drives in Ballymena
- Front garden drives in Newtownabbey
- Front garden drives in Belfast
- Front garden drives in Lisburn
- Front garden drives in Carrickfergus
