Northern Ireland · Replace an old drive

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in County Londonderry

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in County Londonderry: built on a properly dug and compacted base, edged in concrete and laid to falls that take water away from the house.

  • 6 towns listed
  • £90–£170 per m² inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Driveway half old cracked tarmac and half new brindle herringbone block paving

How much does a replacement block drive cost in County Londonderry?

Guide price in County Londonderry£90–£170 per m²Including VAT at 20%

In Northern Ireland, a replacement block drive usually costs £90–£170 per m² including VAT. For a 45 m² replacement drive, that is roughly £4,050–£7,700. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.

ItemGuide price inc VAT
Replace tarmac or concrete with block (incl. break-out)£90–£170 per m²
Breaking out an old surface£9.50–£40 per m²
Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched£19–£50 per metre
Typical channel drain run£330–£950
Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction£950–£2,850

Guide figures for Northern Ireland, checked 9 November 2026.

Towns we cover in County Londonderry

Choose a town for local prices and details for replace an old drive:

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.

Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.

  • Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
  • Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
  • 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
  • New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive

What the survey covers

  • Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
  • Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
  • Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
  • Steps, thresholds and door heights
  • Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry

Rules for front drives in County Londonderry

In Northern Ireland, a hard surface between the front of the house and the road that covers or replaces more than 5 m² must be porous or permeable, or drain to a permeable area within the property, to be permitted development.

Hard surfaces within the grounds of a listed building need listed building consent. Planning is handled by your district council, so check with its planning office if you are unsure.

Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland are approved by DfI Roads (the Department for Infrastructure), not the council; check planning separately with the council.

General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.

How it works

  1. Tell us about the job

    Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.

  2. We take a look

    A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.

  3. Price in writing

    Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.

  4. Booked and built

    Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.

Replace an old drive in County Londonderry: questions

How long does a replacement 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.

Is the survey in County Londonderry 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.

How much does a replacement block drive cost in County Londonderry?

Our guide for County Londonderry is £90–£170 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £4,050–£7,700. Your fixed price follows the survey.

Do you cover Londonderry, Coleraine and Limavady?

Yes. We cover all of County Londonderry, including Londonderry, Coleraine and Limavady.

Neighbouring areas

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Answer four quick questions for an instant guide price, then book a free survey to fix it in writing. Repairs and cleaning can often be priced from photos.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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