Planning a permeable block drive in Bargoed
In and around Bargoed, village-style frontages sit alongside newer cul-de-sacs, so the right block often depends on the age of the house.
Hilly streets in much of Wales mean many drives slope, which shapes the falls, the edging and the water route.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Bargoed?
In Wales, a permeable block drive usually costs £100–£160 per m² including VAT. For a 50 m² drive, that is roughly £4,900–£7,900. 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 | £100–£160 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9.50–£35 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£45 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£930 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £930–£2,800 |
Guide figures for Wales, 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.
- 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
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
Before we price your permeable block drive
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Trees and roots near the drive
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Planning and kerb rules in Bargoed
Bargoed is in Wales, so these rules apply:
In Wales, any new or replacement hard surface at the front of a house should be permeable or drain to a permeable area within the property to avoid needing planning permission. Unlike England, there is no 5 m² allowance for new paving; only repairs of up to 5 m² of existing surface are exempt.
Since January 2019, construction work covering 100 m² or more with drainage implications, including drives and patios, needs approval from the local SuDS Approving Body (SAB) before work starts, even where planning permission is not needed.
A dropped kerb needs your council's approval as highway authority, and a new access onto a classified road 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
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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.
Permeable paving in Bargoed: questions
Do you cover Blackwood, Abercarn and Abertillery?
Yes. We cover Bargoed and the places around it, including Blackwood, Abercarn and Abertillery, and the rest of Gwent.
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 Bargoed?
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.
Do I need planning permission for a permeable block drive in Bargoed?
In Wales, new front paving should be permeable or drain within your boundary to avoid planning permission, and drives of 100 m² or more need SuDS approval. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
Permeable paving near Bargoed
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Gwent:
- Permeable paving in Blackwood
- Permeable paving in Abercarn
- Permeable paving in Abertillery
- Permeable paving in Tredegar
- Permeable paving in Ebbw Vale
- Permeable paving in Caerphilly
