What to know before a permeable block drive in Wilmslow
In Wilmslow, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Terraced streets across the North West often have very short frontages, so we check parking depth before quoting a conversion.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Wilmslow?
For Wilmslow, our guide is £105–£170 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is likely to be £5,250–£8,500. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Permeable block paving driveway | £105–£170 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 North West, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a permeable block drive involve?
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.
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
What we check on a Wilmslow survey
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
Rules for front drives in Wilmslow
Wilmslow 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
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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
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.
Permeable paving in Wilmslow: questions
Do you cover Macclesfield, Congleton and Northwich?
Yes. We cover Wilmslow and the places around it, including Macclesfield, Congleton and Northwich, and the rest of Cheshire.
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.
Is the survey in Wilmslow 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.
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 Wilmslow
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Cheshire:
- Permeable paving in Macclesfield
- Permeable paving in Congleton
- Permeable paving in Northwich
- Permeable paving in Warrington
- Permeable paving in Winsford
- Permeable paving in Newton-le-Willows
