What to know before a permeable block drive in Ashton in Makerfield
Ashton in Makerfield is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Terraced streets across the North West often have very short frontages, so we check parking depth before quoting a conversion.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Ashton in Makerfield?
In the North West, a permeable block drive usually costs £105–£170 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² drive, that is roughly £5,250–£8,500. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.
| 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 North West, 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.
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
Before we price your permeable block drive
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Trees and roots near the drive
Planning and kerb rules in Ashton in Makerfield
Ashton in Makerfield 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
Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.
What you can expect from us
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Permeable paving in Ashton in Makerfield: questions
Do I need planning permission for a permeable block drive in Ashton in Makerfield?
In England, a front drive over 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn or border within your boundary. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
Do you cover Wigan, Hindley and Leigh?
Yes. We cover Ashton in Makerfield and the places around it, including Wigan, Hindley and Leigh, and the rest of Greater Manchester.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Ashton in Makerfield?
Our guide for Ashton in Makerfield 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Ashton in Makerfield?
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.
Permeable paving near Ashton in Makerfield
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Greater Manchester:
- Permeable paving in Wigan
- Permeable paving in Hindley
- Permeable paving in Leigh
- Permeable paving in Westhoughton
- Permeable paving in Atherton
- Permeable paving in Tyldesley
