What to know before a permeable block drive in Solihull
Solihull has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
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 Solihull?
Guide price in Solihull: £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 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.
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
- Edge restraints and any overflow or outlet the design needs
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
Before we price your permeable block drive
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Trees and roots near the drive
Rules for front drives in Solihull
Solihull 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.
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.
What you can expect from us
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Permeable paving in Solihull: questions
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 Solihull?
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 Shirley, Acocks Green and Washwood Heath?
Yes. We cover Solihull and the places around it, including Shirley, Acocks Green and Washwood Heath, and the rest of the West Midlands.
Is the survey in Solihull 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.
Permeable paving near Solihull
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across West Midlands:
- Permeable paving in Shirley
- Permeable paving in Acocks Green
- Permeable paving in Washwood Heath
- Permeable paving in Birmingham
- Permeable paving in Aston
- Permeable paving in Bartley Green
