Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Llandudno: the local picture
In and around Llandudno, village-style frontages sit alongside newer cul-de-sacs, so the right block often depends on the age of the house.
Wales is wetter than most of England, and new front paving has to be permeable or drain within the property, so drainage is designed in from the start.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Llandudno?
Guide price in Llandudno: £90–£165 per m² including VAT, which puts a 45 m² replacement drive at about £4,000–£7,550. These are Wales 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) | £90–£165 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9.50–£35 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£45 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£930 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £930–£2,800 |
Guide figures for Wales, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a replacement block drive involve?
Sometimes the old base can be kept: a thick, sound concrete or well-compacted hardcore layer may only need trimming and topping up. Often it cannot, because it was too thin, has sunk or sits too high against the house. The survey checks levels against the damp-proof course and the existing base before the quote is written, so the price reflects the real dig.
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
What the survey covers
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
Rules for front drives in Llandudno
Llandudno is in Wales, so these rules apply:
In Wales, any new or replacement hard surface at the front of a house should be permeable or drain to a permeable area within the property to avoid needing planning permission. Unlike England, there is no 5 m² allowance for new paving; only repairs of up to 5 m² of existing surface are exempt.
Since January 2019, construction work covering 100 m² or more with drainage implications, including drives and patios, needs approval from the local SuDS Approving Body (SAB) before work starts, even where planning permission is not needed.
A dropped kerb needs your council's approval as highway authority, and a new access onto a classified road needs planning permission.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
What happens next
Send the basics
Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.
Survey
We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.
Written quote
An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.
The work
Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.
How we work
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Replace an old drive in Llandudno: questions
Do you cover Deganwy, Colwyn Bay and Abergele?
Yes. We cover Llandudno and the places around it, including Deganwy, Colwyn Bay and Abergele, and the rest of Clwyd.
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Llandudno?
In Wales, new front paving should be permeable or drain within your boundary to avoid planning permission, and drives of 100 m² or more need SuDS approval. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
Is the survey in Llandudno 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Llandudno?
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.
Replace an old drive near Llandudno
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Clwyd:
- Replace an old drive in Deganwy
- Replace an old drive in Colwyn Bay
- Replace an old drive in Abergele
- Replace an old drive in Rhyl
- Replace an old drive in Prestatyn
