What to know before a front garden driveway in Welling
Welling is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Many London streets have controlled parking and narrow frontages, so we measure the car space and the crossover before anything else.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Welling?
In London, a front garden driveway usually costs £100–£170 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £5,100–£8,400. 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 | £100–£170 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £12–£50 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £25–£60 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £420–£1,200 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,200–£3,600 |
Guide figures for London, 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.
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- 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
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
What the survey covers
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
Planning and kerb rules in Welling
Welling 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.
How we work
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Front garden drives in Welling: questions
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Welling?
In England, a front drive over 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn or border within your boundary. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Welling?
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 Welling?
Our guide for Welling is £100–£170 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £5,100–£8,400. Your fixed price follows the survey.
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 Welling
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Greater London:
- Front garden drives in Bexley
- Front garden drives in Eltham
- Front garden drives in Thamesmead
- Front garden drives in Barking
- Front garden drives in Canning Town
- Front garden drives in Greenwich
