What to know before a front garden driveway in Londonderry
Londonderry has a big mix of housing, from older terraces near the centre to newer estates further out, so no two drives here start from the same ground.
Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Londonderry?
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 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.
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
What we check on a Londonderry survey
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
Do you need permission in Londonderry?
Londonderry 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
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.
How we work
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Front garden drives in Londonderry: 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Londonderry?
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 much does a front garden driveway cost in Londonderry?
Our guide for Londonderry 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.
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Londonderry?
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.
Front garden drives near Londonderry
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across County Londonderry:
