What to know before a front garden driveway in Portrush
In and around Portrush, village-style frontages sit alongside newer cul-de-sacs, so the right block often depends on the age of the house.
Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Portrush?
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
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
Before we price your front garden driveway
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- 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?
Rules for front drives in Portrush
Portrush 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
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.
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
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.
Front garden drives in Portrush: questions
Can you match the blocks to my house in Portrush?
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.
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.
Is the survey in Portrush 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.
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.
Front garden drives near Portrush
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across County Londonderry:
- Front garden drives in Portstewart
- Front garden drives in Coleraine
- Front garden drives in Limavady
- Front garden drives in Ballymoney
