Permeable block paving in Broadstairs: the local picture
Broadstairs is a smaller town, and many of its homes have more frontage to work with than city houses, which leaves room for borders and planting.
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 Broadstairs?
Guide price in Broadstairs: £115–£185 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² drive at about £5,650–£9,200. These are South East guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| 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 is included?
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
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
What the survey covers
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
Rules for front drives in Broadstairs
Broadstairs 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.
How we work
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Permeable paving in Broadstairs: questions
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Broadstairs?
Our guide for Broadstairs 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.
Do you cover Ramsgate, Margate and Deal?
Yes. We cover Broadstairs and the places around it, including Ramsgate, Margate and Deal, and the rest of Kent.
Is the survey in Broadstairs 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Broadstairs?
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 Broadstairs
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Kent:
- Permeable paving in Ramsgate
- Permeable paving in Margate
- Permeable paving in Deal
- Permeable paving in Herne Bay
- Permeable paving in Canterbury
- Permeable paving in Dover
