Planning a permeable block drive in Bangor, County Down
Homes in Bangor, County Down include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Bangor, County Down?
Most permeable block drive quotes in Northern Ireland fall within £100–£160 per m² including VAT. A 50 m² drive would usually be about £5,000–£8,100, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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 does a permeable block drive involve?
Permeable block paving is block paving built so that rainwater drains down through the joints into a deep, open-graded stone sub-base, where it is stored and soaks away slowly into the ground or is piped off. The blocks have small spacers or wider joints filled with fine grit instead of sand.
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
Before we price your permeable block drive
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
Do you need permission in Bangor, County Down?
Bangor, County Down 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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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.
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.
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.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Permeable paving in Bangor, County Down: questions
Is the survey in Bangor, County Down 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.
Do you cover Newtownards, Donaghadee and Holywood?
Yes. We cover Bangor, County Down and the places around it, including Newtownards, Donaghadee and Holywood, and the rest of County Down.
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.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Bangor, County Down?
Our guide for Bangor, County Down is £100–£160 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is usually about £5,000–£8,100. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Permeable paving near Bangor, County Down
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across County Down:
- Permeable paving in Newtownards
- Permeable paving in Donaghadee
- Permeable paving in Holywood
- Permeable paving in Dundonald
- Permeable paving in Comber
- Permeable paving in Carryduff
