What to know before a permeable block drive in Godalming
Around Godalming, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.
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 Godalming?
For Godalming, 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 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.
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- 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
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
Rules for front drives in Godalming
Godalming 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
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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
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.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Permeable paving in Godalming: questions
Is the survey in Godalming 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.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Godalming?
Our guide for Godalming 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.
Do I need planning permission for a permeable block drive in Godalming?
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.
Permeable paving near Godalming
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Surrey:
- Permeable paving in Guildford
- Permeable paving in Farnham
- Permeable paving in Woking
- Permeable paving in Camberley
- Permeable paving in Leatherhead
- Permeable paving in Walton-on-Thames
