County Down · Front garden drives

Front garden to driveway conversions in Newry

We quote front garden driveways throughout Newry and County Down. The survey sets the depth of dig and the drainage; the pattern and colour are your choice.

  • Postcodes BT35
  • £80–£135 per m² inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Small front garden of a Victorian terrace converted into a block paved parking space with a planted border

Front garden to driveway conversions in Newry: the local picture

Homes in Newry include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.

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 Newry?

Guide price in Newry£80–£135 per m²Including VAT at 20%

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.

ItemGuide 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?

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
  • Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
  • Dig-out, sub-base and edging
  • Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border

Before we price your front garden driveway

  • Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
  • Whether front-garden planning rules apply
  • Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
  • The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
  • Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry

Planning and kerb rules in Newry

Newry 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.

From enquiry to finished paving

  1. Send the basics

    Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.

  2. Survey

    We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.

  3. Written quote

    An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.

  4. The work

    Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.

Why choose Block Paving Contractors

Honest timescales

We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.

Water planned first

Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.

Itemised quotes

Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.

Clean finish

The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.

Front garden drives in Newry: questions

Can you match the blocks to my house in Newry?

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 I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Newry?

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.

Is the survey in Newry 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.

Front garden drives near Newry

Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across County Down:

Other block paving services in Newry

Or see all block paving services in Newry.

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we will come back to you to arrange a visit or a price from photos.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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