What to know before a front garden driveway in Poole
Poole has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
The South West is wetter than the east of England, so falls and drainage are planned before the pattern is chosen.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Poole?
In the South West, a front garden driveway usually costs £85–£140 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £4,250–£7,000. 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 | £85–£140 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £10–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,000–£3,000 |
Guide figures for the South West, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our front garden drives service
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
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
What we check on a Poole survey
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
Planning and kerb rules in Poole
Poole is in England, so these rules apply:
In England, paving in front of the house that covers more than 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway inside your boundary. Permeable block paving, or standard blocks laid to fall onto a planted strip, avoid the need for permission in most cases.
Flats and maisonettes, listed buildings, and homes covered by an Article 4 direction can have tighter rules, and conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes restrict some permitted development.
A dropped kerb needs your local highway authority's approval (usually the county, unitary, metropolitan or London borough council), and a new access onto an A, B or C classified road also needs planning permission.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
From enquiry to finished paving
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
What you can expect from us
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Front garden drives in Poole: questions
Is the survey in Poole 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.
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.
Do you cover Bournemouth, Ferndown and Christchurch?
Yes. We cover Poole and the places around it, including Bournemouth, Ferndown and Christchurch, and the rest of Dorset.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Poole?
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 Poole
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Dorset:
- Front garden drives in Bournemouth
- Front garden drives in Ferndown
- Front garden drives in Christchurch
- Front garden drives in Dorchester
- Front garden drives in Weymouth
