Planning a front garden driveway in Bishop's Stortford
Homes in Bishop's Stortford include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Flat ground across much of the East means falls have to be built in carefully so water does not sit on the drive.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Bishop's Stortford?
Expect front garden driveways in Bishop's Stortford to come in at around £90–£145 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 50 m² double drive usually comes to between £4,450 and £7,350.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £90–£145 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £370–£1,050 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,050–£3,150 |
Guide figures for the East of England, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our front garden drives service
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
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
Before we price your front garden driveway
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Planning and kerb rules in Bishop's Stortford
Bishop's Stortford 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.
What you can expect from us
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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.
Front garden drives in Bishop's Stortford: questions
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.
Is the survey in Bishop's Stortford 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 Hoddesdon, Hertford and Cheshunt?
Yes. We cover Bishop's Stortford and the places around it, including Hoddesdon, Hertford and Cheshunt, and the rest of Hertfordshire.
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Bishop's Stortford?
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.
Front garden drives near Bishop's Stortford
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Hertfordshire:
- Front garden drives in Hoddesdon
- Front garden drives in Hertford
- Front garden drives in Cheshunt
- Front garden drives in Stevenage
- Front garden drives in Welwyn Garden City
- Front garden drives in Hatfield
