Front garden to driveway conversions in Donaghadee: the local picture
In and around Donaghadee, village-style frontages sit alongside newer cul-de-sacs, so the right block often depends on the age of the house.
Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland go through DfI Roads, so we build that timing into the plan for new drives.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Donaghadee?
In Northern Ireland, a front garden driveway usually costs £80–£135 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £4,050–£6,650. 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 | £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?
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
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
What the survey covers
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Do you need permission in Donaghadee?
Donaghadee 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.
What happens next
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
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Front garden drives in Donaghadee: questions
Do you cover Bangor, County Down, Newtownards and Comber?
Yes. We cover Donaghadee and the places around it, including Bangor, County Down, Newtownards and Comber, and the rest of County Down.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Donaghadee?
Our guide for Donaghadee 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.
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 Donaghadee
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across County Down:
- Front garden drives in Bangor, County Down
- Front garden drives in Newtownards
- Front garden drives in Comber
- Front garden drives in Dundonald
- Front garden drives in Holywood
- Front garden drives in Carryduff
