Planning a front garden driveway in Hertford
Hertford is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Clay soils are common in parts of the East of England, so drainage and sub-base depth get extra attention.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Hertford?
Expect front garden driveways in Hertford 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 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
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
Before we price your front garden driveway
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- 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
Do you need permission in Hertford?
Hertford 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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Front garden drives in Hertford: questions
Is the survey in Hertford 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Hertford?
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.
Do you cover Hoddesdon, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield?
Yes. We cover Hertford and the places around it, including Hoddesdon, Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield, and the rest of Hertfordshire.
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Hertford?
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 Hertford
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Hertfordshire:
- Front garden drives in Hoddesdon
- Front garden drives in Welwyn Garden City
- Front garden drives in Hatfield
- Front garden drives in Cheshunt
- Front garden drives in Potters Bar
- Front garden drives in Stevenage
