Planning a permeable block drive in Shirley
In Shirley, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Inter-war semis with narrow front gardens are common in the West Midlands, so front garden conversions and drive widenings are often the practical choice.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Shirley?
Guide price in Shirley: £105–£170 per m² including VAT, which puts a 50 m² drive at about £5,250–£8,500. These are West Midlands guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Permeable block paving driveway | £105–£170 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £10–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,000–£3,000 |
Guide figures for the West Midlands, 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.
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
Before we price your permeable block drive
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
Rules for front drives in Shirley
Shirley 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
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.
How we work
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Permeable paving in Shirley: questions
Is the survey in Shirley 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 Shirley?
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.
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.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Shirley?
Our guide for Shirley is £105–£170 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is usually about £5,250–£8,500. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Permeable paving near Shirley
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across West Midlands:
- Permeable paving in Solihull
- Permeable paving in Acocks Green
- Permeable paving in Birmingham
- Permeable paving in Washwood Heath
- Permeable paving in Aston
- Permeable paving in Bartley Green
