How much does a permeable block drive cost in Mid Glamorgan?
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.
Towns we cover in Mid Glamorgan
Choose a town for local prices and details for permeable paving:
- Tonypandy
- Bridgend
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Pontypridd
- Aberdare
- Maesteg
- Porthcawl
- Llantrisant
- Pyle
- Nelson, Mid Glamorgan
- Treharris
- Mountain Ash
- Aberkenfig
- Tonyrefail
- Pencoed
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.
Wales is wetter than most of England, and new front paving has to be permeable or drain within the property, so drainage is designed in from the start.
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- 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
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Trees and roots near the drive
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
Rules for front drives in Mid Glamorgan
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.
How it works
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.
Permeable paving in Mid Glamorgan: questions
Do you cover Tonypandy, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil?
Yes. We cover all of Mid Glamorgan, including Tonypandy, Bridgend and Merthyr Tydfil.
Is the survey in Mid Glamorgan 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 I need planning permission for a permeable block drive in Mid Glamorgan?
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.
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.
