What to know before a permeable block drive in Becontree
Across Becontree, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
Many London streets have controlled parking and narrow frontages, so we measure the car space and the crossover before anything else.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Becontree?
Guide price in Becontree: £125–£205 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² drive at about £6,300–£10,200. These are London guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Permeable block paving driveway | £125–£205 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £12–£50 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £25–£60 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £420–£1,200 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,200–£3,600 |
Guide figures for London, 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
- 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
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
What the survey covers
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Trees and roots near the drive
Rules for front drives in Becontree
Becontree 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.
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.
What you can expect from us
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.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Permeable paving in Becontree: 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 Becontree 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 Dagenham, Barking and Ilford?
Yes. We cover Becontree and the places around it, including Dagenham, Barking and Ilford, and the rest of Greater London.
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 Becontree
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Greater London:
- Permeable paving in Dagenham
- Permeable paving in Barking
- Permeable paving in Ilford
- Permeable paving in Romford
- Permeable paving in Thamesmead
- Permeable paving in Leytonstone
