Planning a front garden driveway in Gravesend
Gravesend is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Chalk, clay and sandy ground all occur across the South East, so the dig and sub-base depth are set on the survey rather than assumed.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Gravesend?
In the South East, a front garden driveway usually costs £90–£150 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £4,600–£7,550. 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 | £90–£150 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£45 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £380–£1,100 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,100–£3,250 |
Guide figures for the South East, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our front garden drives service
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
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
Before we price your front garden driveway
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Trees and roots near the drive
Do you need permission in Gravesend?
Gravesend 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.
What happens next
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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Front garden drives in Gravesend: questions
Can you match the blocks to my house in Gravesend?
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 Strood, Dartford and Rochester?
Yes. We cover Gravesend and the places around it, including Strood, Dartford and Rochester, and the rest of Kent.
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.
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Gravesend?
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 Gravesend
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Kent:
- Front garden drives in Strood
- Front garden drives in Dartford
- Front garden drives in Rochester
- Front garden drives in Gillingham
- Front garden drives in Swanley
- Front garden drives in Maidstone
