How much does a front garden driveway cost in Surrey?
For Surrey, our guide is £90–£150 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is likely to be £4,600–£7,550. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| 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.
Towns we cover in Surrey
Choose a town for local prices and details for front garden drives:
- Woking
- Guildford
- Esher
- Redhill
- Staines-upon-Thames
- Banstead
- Leatherhead
- Ewell
- Farnham
- Epsom
- Camberley
- Egham
- Sunbury-on-Thames
- Ashford, Surrey
- Walton-on-Thames
- Godalming
- Reigate
- Horley
- Caterham
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.
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.
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
What the survey covers
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
Rules for front drives in Surrey
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.
How it works
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.
Front garden drives in Surrey: questions
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Surrey?
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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Surrey?
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 Surrey?
Our guide for Surrey is £90–£150 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,600–£7,550. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Is the survey in Surrey 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.
