Planning a front garden driveway in Neath
Neath is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
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 Neath?
Expect front garden driveways in Neath to come in at around £80–£130 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 50 m² double drive usually comes to between £3,950 and £6,500.
| 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 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.
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
What we check on a Neath survey
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
Do you need permission in Neath?
Neath 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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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.
How we work
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Front garden drives in Neath: questions
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.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Neath?
Our guide for Neath is £80–£130 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £3,950–£6,500. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do you cover Briton Ferry, Clydach and Swansea?
Yes. We cover Neath and the places around it, including Briton Ferry, Clydach and Swansea, and the rest of West Glamorgan.
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.
Front garden drives near Neath
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across West Glamorgan:
- Front garden drives in Briton Ferry
- Front garden drives in Clydach
- Front garden drives in Swansea
- Front garden drives in Gorseinon
- Front garden drives in Pontarddulais
