What to know before a permeable block drive in Woking
Woking has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
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 Woking?
Guide price in Woking: £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 you get with our permeable paving service
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.
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
What the survey covers
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
Rules for front drives in Woking
Woking 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.
What happens next
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
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Permeable paving in Woking: questions
Is the survey in Woking 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.
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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Woking?
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 long does a permeable block drive take to build?
Most homes take between three and seven working days, depending on size, the dig and the drainage. Your quote gives the expected duration.
Permeable paving near Woking
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across Surrey:
- Permeable paving in Guildford
- Permeable paving in Egham
- Permeable paving in Walton-on-Thames
- Permeable paving in Camberley
- Permeable paving in Staines-upon-Thames
- Permeable paving in Sunbury-on-Thames
