Planning a replacement block drive in Saltcoats
Around Saltcoats, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within the property whatever its size, so drainage is part of every design.
In Scotland block paving is often called monoblock; it is the same thing, and the same rules for the base, edging and drainage apply.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Saltcoats?
Guide price in Saltcoats: £95–£180 per m² including VAT, which puts a 45 m² replacement drive at about £4,300–£8,100. These are Scotland guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Replace tarmac or concrete with block (incl. break-out) | £95–£180 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 Scotland, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
Replacing an old drive with block paving means breaking out the existing tarmac, concrete or gravel, checking what is underneath, and then building a block drive on a sound base. Many older tarmac and concrete drives have cracked, sunk or broken up, which is why this is such a common way into block paving.
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
What the survey covers
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
Do you need permission in Saltcoats?
Saltcoats is in Scotland, so these rules apply:
In Scotland, a hard surface between the house and the road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a permeable area within the property. There is no 5 m² threshold: the rule applies whatever the size.
Hard surfaces are not permitted development in a conservation area or within the grounds of a listed building, so planning permission is needed there.
A dropped kerb needs consent from your council as roads authority under section 56 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, and planning permission may also be needed depending on the road.
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.
How we work
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
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.
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.
Replace an old drive in Saltcoats: 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Saltcoats?
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 you cover Ardrossan, Stevenston and Kilwinning?
Yes. We cover Saltcoats and the places around it, including Ardrossan, Stevenston and Kilwinning, and the rest of Ayrshire.
Is the survey in Saltcoats 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.
Replace an old drive near Saltcoats
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Ayrshire:
- Replace an old drive in Ardrossan
- Replace an old drive in Stevenston
- Replace an old drive in Kilwinning
- Replace an old drive in Irvine
- Replace an old drive in Troon
- Replace an old drive in Kilmarnock
