Front garden to driveway conversions in Rhiwbina: the local picture
Around Rhiwbina, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.
Hilly streets in much of Wales mean many drives slope, which shapes the falls, the edging and the water route.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Rhiwbina?
Most front garden driveway quotes in Wales fall within £80–£130 per m² including VAT. A 50 m² double drive would usually be about £3,950–£6,500, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £80–£130 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9.50–£35 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£45 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£930 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £930–£2,800 |
Guide figures for Wales, 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.
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
What we check on a Rhiwbina survey
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
Planning and kerb rules in Rhiwbina
Rhiwbina is in Wales, so these rules apply:
In Wales, any new or replacement hard surface at the front of a house should be permeable or drain to a permeable area within the property to avoid needing planning permission. Unlike England, there is no 5 m² allowance for new paving; only repairs of up to 5 m² of existing surface are exempt.
Since January 2019, construction work covering 100 m² or more with drainage implications, including drives and patios, needs approval from the local SuDS Approving Body (SAB) before work starts, even where planning permission is not needed.
A dropped kerb needs your council's approval as highway authority, and a new access onto a classified road needs planning permission.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
How it works
Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.
What you can expect from us
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Front garden drives in Rhiwbina: questions
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Rhiwbina?
In Wales, new front paving should be permeable or drain within your boundary to avoid planning permission, and drives of 100 m² or more need SuDS approval. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
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.
Do you cover Cardiff, Penarth and Dinas Powys?
Yes. We cover Rhiwbina and the places around it, including Cardiff, Penarth and Dinas Powys, and the rest of South Glamorgan.
Is the survey in Rhiwbina 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 Rhiwbina
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across South Glamorgan:
- Front garden drives in Cardiff
- Front garden drives in Penarth
- Front garden drives in Dinas Powys
- Front garden drives in Barry
- Front garden drives in Llantwit Major
