Planning a permeable block drive in Long Eaton
Homes in Long Eaton include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Clay and mudstone ground is common in the East Midlands, so we allow for a deeper sub-base where the survey shows soft ground.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Long Eaton?
For Long Eaton, 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 East Midlands, 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.
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- 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
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
What the survey covers
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
Do you need permission in Long Eaton?
Long Eaton 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.
How we work
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Permeable paving in Long Eaton: questions
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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Long Eaton?
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.
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 Long Eaton?
Our guide for Long Eaton is £105–£170 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is usually about £5,250–£8,500. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Permeable paving near Long Eaton
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Derbyshire:
- Permeable paving in Ilkeston
- Permeable paving in Heanor
- Permeable paving in Derby
- Permeable paving in Ripley
- Permeable paving in Belper
- Permeable paving in Alfreton
