What to know before a permeable block drive in Ashford, Kent
In Ashford, Kent, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Planning-sensitive towns and conservation areas are common in the South East, so we check the front-garden rules before quoting.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Ashford, Kent?
For Ashford, Kent, our guide is £115–£185 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is likely to be £5,650–£9,200. 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 | £115–£185 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£45 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £380–£1,100 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,100–£3,250 |
Guide figures for the South East, 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
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
What we check on an Ashford, Kent survey
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Trees and roots near the drive
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
Rules for front drives in Ashford, Kent
Ashford, Kent 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.
How it works
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
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Permeable paving in Ashford, Kent: questions
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Ashford, Kent?
Our guide for Ashford, Kent is £115–£185 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is usually about £5,650–£9,200. Your fixed price follows the survey.
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.
Is the survey in Ashford, Kent 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 Faversham, Canterbury and Folkestone?
Yes. We cover Ashford, Kent and the places around it, including Faversham, Canterbury and Folkestone, and the rest of Kent.
Permeable paving near Ashford, Kent
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Kent:
- Permeable paving in Faversham
- Permeable paving in Canterbury
- Permeable paving in Folkestone
- Permeable paving in Sittingbourne
- Permeable paving in Whitstable
- Permeable paving in Maidstone
