Planning a front garden driveway in Bury
In Bury, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Terraced streets across the North West often have very short frontages, so we check parking depth before quoting a conversion.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Bury?
Expect front garden driveways in Bury to come in at around £85–£140 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 50 m² double drive usually comes to between £4,250 and £7,000.
| 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 North West, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a front garden driveway involve?
A front garden conversion turns a lawn or small front garden into off-street parking. For terraces and semis without a drive, it is often the single most useful change to the house, but it only works if a car fits, the water has somewhere to go and the council will drop the kerb.
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- 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
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
What we check on a Bury survey
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
Rules for front drives in Bury
Bury 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
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Front garden drives in Bury: questions
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Bury?
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.
Do you cover Radcliffe, Heywood and Whitefield?
Yes. We cover Bury and the places around it, including Radcliffe, Heywood and Whitefield, and the rest of Greater Manchester.
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.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Bury?
Our guide for Bury is £85–£140 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,250–£7,000. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Front garden drives near Bury
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Greater Manchester:
- Front garden drives in Radcliffe
- Front garden drives in Heywood
- Front garden drives in Whitefield
- Front garden drives in Prestwich
- Front garden drives in Middleton
- Front garden drives in Farnworth
