What to know before a front garden driveway in Stockport
Across Stockport, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
The North West is one of the wetter parts of England, so falls, channel drains and permeable options matter more than usual.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Stockport?
Guide price in Stockport: £85–£140 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² double drive at about £4,250–£7,000. These are North West guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| 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 is included?
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.
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
Before we price your front garden driveway
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
Rules for front drives in Stockport
Stockport 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
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.
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.
Front garden drives in Stockport: questions
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Stockport?
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.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Stockport?
Our guide for Stockport 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.
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 Stockport 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.
Front garden drives near Stockport
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Greater Manchester:
- Front garden drives in Hazel Grove
- Front garden drives in Cheadle Hulme
- Front garden drives in Denton
- Front garden drives in Hyde
- Front garden drives in Droylsden
- Front garden drives in Manchester
