What to know before a permeable block drive in Tunbridge Wells
Tunbridge Wells is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Chalk, clay and sandy ground all occur across the South East, so the dig and sub-base depth are set on the survey rather than assumed.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Tunbridge Wells?
Most permeable block drive quotes in the South East fall within £115–£185 per m² including VAT. A 50 m² drive would usually be about £5,650–£9,200, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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?
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.
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
- 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
What the survey covers
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
Do you need permission in Tunbridge Wells?
Tunbridge Wells 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
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.
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 Tunbridge Wells: questions
Do I need planning permission for a permeable block drive in Tunbridge Wells?
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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Tunbridge Wells?
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.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Tunbridge Wells?
Our guide for Tunbridge Wells 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.
Is the survey in Tunbridge Wells 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.
Permeable paving near Tunbridge Wells
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Kent:
- Permeable paving in Tonbridge
- Permeable paving in Sevenoaks
- Permeable paving in Maidstone
- Permeable paving in Swanley
- Permeable paving in Strood
- Permeable paving in Rochester
