Front garden to driveway conversions in Portstewart: the local picture
Portstewart is a smaller town, and many of its homes have more frontage to work with than city houses, which leaves room for borders and planting.
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 Portstewart?
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.
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
Before we price your front garden driveway
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
Planning and kerb rules in Portstewart
Portstewart 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.
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.
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Front garden drives in Portstewart: questions
Is the survey in Portstewart 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.
Do you cover Portrush, Coleraine and Limavady?
Yes. We cover Portstewart and the places around it, including Portrush, Coleraine and Limavady, and the rest of County Londonderry.
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Portstewart?
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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Portstewart?
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.
Front garden drives near Portstewart
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across County Londonderry:
- Front garden drives in Portrush
- Front garden drives in Coleraine
- Front garden drives in Limavady
- Front garden drives in Ballymoney
