Permeable block paving in Castlereagh: the local picture
In Castlereagh, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Castlereagh?
For Castlereagh, our guide is £100–£160 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is likely to be £5,000–£8,100. 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 | £100–£160 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9.50–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£950 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £950–£2,850 |
Guide figures for Northern Ireland, 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.
- 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
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
What we check on a Castlereagh survey
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
Do you need permission in Castlereagh?
Castlereagh is in Northern Ireland, so these rules apply:
In Northern Ireland, a hard surface between the front of the house and the road that covers or replaces more than 5 m² must be porous or permeable, or drain to a permeable area within the property, to be permitted development.
Hard surfaces within the grounds of a listed building need listed building consent. Planning is handled by your district council, so check with its planning office if you are unsure.
Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland are approved by DfI Roads (the Department for Infrastructure), not the council; check planning separately with the council.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
What happens next
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
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.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Permeable paving in Castlereagh: 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.
Is the survey in Castlereagh 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Castlereagh?
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.
Do you cover Belfast, Newtownabbey and Lisburn?
Yes. We cover Castlereagh and the places around it, including Belfast, Newtownabbey and Lisburn, and the rest of County Antrim.
Permeable paving near Castlereagh
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across County Antrim:
- Permeable paving in Belfast
- Permeable paving in Newtownabbey
- Permeable paving in Lisburn
- Permeable paving in Carrickfergus
- Permeable paving in Ballyclare
- Permeable paving in Antrim
