What to know before a front garden driveway in Castlereagh
Castlereagh is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Castlereagh?
Guide price in Castlereagh: £80–£135 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £4,050–£6,650. These are Northern Ireland guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| 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 does a front garden driveway involve?
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.
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
What the survey covers
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
Do you need permission in Castlereagh?
Castlereagh 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
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.
What you can expect from us
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Front garden drives in Castlereagh: questions
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Castlereagh?
Our guide for Castlereagh is £80–£135 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,050–£6,650. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Castlereagh?
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.
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Castlereagh?
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.
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 Castlereagh
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across County Antrim:
- Front garden drives in Belfast
- Front garden drives in Newtownabbey
- Front garden drives in Lisburn
- Front garden drives in Carrickfergus
- Front garden drives in Ballyclare
- Front garden drives in Antrim
