Planning a permeable block drive in Newtownards
Newtownards is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland go through DfI Roads, so we build that timing into the plan for new drives.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Newtownards?
For Newtownards, 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 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.
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
What the survey covers
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
Planning and kerb rules in Newtownards
Newtownards 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.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
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.
Permeable paving in Newtownards: questions
Do you cover Comber, Dundonald and Bangor, County Down?
Yes. We cover Newtownards and the places around it, including Comber, Dundonald and Bangor, County Down, and the rest of County Down.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Newtownards?
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.
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.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Newtownards?
Our guide for Newtownards 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 Newtownards
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across County Down:
- Permeable paving in Comber
- Permeable paving in Dundonald
- Permeable paving in Bangor, County Down
- Permeable paving in Holywood
- Permeable paving in Donaghadee
- Permeable paving in Carryduff
