Planning a permeable block drive in Smethwick
Smethwick is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Clay ground is widespread in the West Midlands, so the sub-base depth and drainage are checked on every survey.
How much does a permeable block drive cost in Smethwick?
Expect permeable block drives in Smethwick to come in at around £105–£170 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 50 m² drive usually comes to between £5,250 and £8,500.
| 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 does a permeable block drive involve?
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.
- 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
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
What the survey covers
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Planning and kerb rules in Smethwick
Smethwick 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
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.
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
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 Smethwick: questions
Can you match the blocks to my house in Smethwick?
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.
Do I need planning permission for a permeable block drive in Smethwick?
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.
Do you cover West Bromwich, Birmingham and Aston?
Yes. We cover Smethwick and the places around it, including West Bromwich, Birmingham and Aston, and the rest of the West Midlands.
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.
Permeable paving near Smethwick
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across West Midlands:
- Permeable paving in West Bromwich
- Permeable paving in Birmingham
- Permeable paving in Aston
- Permeable paving in Bartley Green
- Permeable paving in Halesowen
- Permeable paving in Wednesbury
