Staffordshire · Front garden drives

Front garden to driveway conversions in Stafford

Block paving suits homes in Stafford because it can be repaired a block at a time and looks right for decades when the base underneath is built properly.

  • Postcodes ST16, ST17, ST18
  • £85–£140 per m² inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Small front garden of a Victorian terrace converted into a block paved parking space with a planted border

Front garden to driveway conversions in Stafford: the local picture

In Stafford, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.

Clay ground is widespread in the West Midlands, so the sub-base depth and drainage are checked on every survey.

How much does a front garden driveway cost in Stafford?

Guide price in Stafford£85–£140 per m²Including VAT at 20%

In the West Midlands, a front garden driveway usually costs £85–£140 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² double drive, that is roughly £4,250–£7,000. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.

ItemGuide 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 West Midlands, 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.

  • Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
  • Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
  • Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
  • Dig-out, sub-base and edging
  • Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging

What we check on a Stafford survey

  • Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
  • The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
  • Trees and roots near the drive
  • Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
  • Whether front-garden planning rules apply

Do you need permission in Stafford?

Stafford 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

  1. Quick details

    Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.

  2. On-site check

    Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.

  3. Itemised quote

    Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.

  4. Laid and finished

    Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.

Why choose Block Paving Contractors

Repair before replace

If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.

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.

Water planned first

Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.

Front garden drives in Stafford: questions

Is the survey in Stafford 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.

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.

Can you match the blocks to my house in Stafford?

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.

How much does a front garden driveway cost in Stafford?

Our guide for Stafford 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.

Front garden drives near Stafford

Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across Staffordshire:

Other block paving services in Stafford

Or see all block paving services in Stafford.

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Tell us what you have in mind for Stafford, and we will put a written price together.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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