Planning a front garden driveway in Smethwick
In Smethwick, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Inter-war semis with narrow front gardens are common in the West Midlands, so front garden conversions and drive widenings are often the practical choice.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Smethwick?
Most front garden driveway quotes in the West Midlands fall within £85–£140 per m² including VAT. A 50 m² double drive would usually be about £4,250–£7,000, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| Item | Guide 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
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.
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
- Wall, hedge or fence opening and making good the ends
What we check on a Smethwick survey
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
Planning and kerb rules in Smethwick
Smethwick 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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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.
How we work
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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.
Front garden drives in Smethwick: questions
Do you cover West Bromwich, Birmingham and Aston?
Yes. We cover Smethwick and the places around it, including West Bromwich, Birmingham and Aston, and the rest of the West Midlands.
How much does a front garden driveway cost in Smethwick?
Our guide for Smethwick 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.
Is the survey in Smethwick 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.
Front garden drives near Smethwick
Nearby towns we cover for front garden drives, and front garden drives across West Midlands:
- Front garden drives in West Bromwich
- Front garden drives in Birmingham
- Front garden drives in Aston
- Front garden drives in Bartley Green
- Front garden drives in Halesowen
- Front garden drives in Wednesbury
