What to know before a permeable block drive in Crawley
Crawley has a big mix of housing, from older terraces near the centre to newer estates further out, so no two drives here start from the same ground.
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 Crawley?
Guide price in Crawley: £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 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.
- Deeper dig-out for the open-graded sub-base
- Geotextile layer where the design needs one
- Ground check: how well the soil drains and how high the water table sits
- Grit laying course and permeable blocks with grit-filled joints
- Open-graded crushed stone (no fines) laid and compacted in layers
What the survey covers
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
Rules for front drives in Crawley
Crawley 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
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
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Permeable paving in Crawley: questions
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.
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 you cover Horsham, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath?
Yes. We cover Crawley and the places around it, including Horsham, East Grinstead and Haywards Heath, and the rest of West Sussex.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Crawley?
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.
Permeable paving near Crawley
Nearby towns we cover for permeable paving, and permeable paving across West Sussex:
- Permeable paving in Horsham
- Permeable paving in East Grinstead
- Permeable paving in Haywards Heath
- Permeable paving in Burgess Hill
- Permeable paving in Worthing
