What to know before a permeable block drive in Crowthorne
Crowthorne is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
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.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Crowthorne?
Guide price in Crowthorne: £115–£185 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² drive at about £5,650–£9,200. These are South East guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Permeable block paving driveway | £115–£185 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. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our permeable paving service
It is the straightforward way to pave a front garden without sending rain into the road, which matters because in England a non-permeable front surface over 5 m² that does not drain to a permeable area within the property needs planning permission, and in Wales any new front surface must be permeable or drain within the property. The build is different from a standard drive from the ground up, so it has to be designed as permeable rather than just using different blocks.
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
What the survey covers
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
Rules for front drives in Crowthorne
Crowthorne 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.
What you can expect from us
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
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.
Permeable paving in Crowthorne: questions
How long does a permeable block drive 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 I need planning permission for a permeable block drive in Crowthorne?
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.
Do you cover Sandhurst, Wokingham and Bracknell?
Yes. We cover Crowthorne and the places around it, including Sandhurst, Wokingham and Bracknell, and the rest of Berkshire.
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.
Permeable paving near Crowthorne
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Berkshire:
- Permeable paving in Sandhurst
- Permeable paving in Wokingham
- Permeable paving in Bracknell
- Permeable paving in Earley
- Permeable paving in Reading
- Permeable paving in Maidenhead
