Dyfed · Replace an old drive

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Aberystwyth

Block paving suits homes in Aberystwyth because it can be repaired a block at a time and looks right for decades when the base underneath is built properly.

  • Postcodes SY23, SY24
  • £90–£165 per m² inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Driveway half old cracked tarmac and half new brindle herringbone block paving

Planning a replacement block drive in Aberystwyth

In and around Aberystwyth, village-style frontages sit alongside newer cul-de-sacs, so the right block often depends on the age of the house.

Hilly streets in much of Wales mean many drives slope, which shapes the falls, the edging and the water route.

How much does a replacement block drive cost in Aberystwyth?

Guide price in Aberystwyth£90–£165 per m²Including VAT at 20%

Guide price in Aberystwyth: £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.

ItemGuide 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 you get with our replace an old drive service

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.

  • New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
  • Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
  • Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
  • Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
  • Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road

Before we price your replacement block drive

  • Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
  • Whether front-garden planning rules apply
  • Steps, thresholds and door heights
  • Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
  • Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be

Do you need permission in Aberystwyth?

Aberystwyth 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.

From enquiry to finished paving

  1. Quick details

    Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.

  2. On-site check

    Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.

  3. Itemised quote

    Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.

  4. 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.

Clean finish

The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.

Water planned first

Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.

Honest timescales

We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.

Replace an old drive in Aberystwyth: questions

Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Aberystwyth?

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.

How much does a replacement block drive cost in Aberystwyth?

Our guide for Aberystwyth is £90–£165 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £4,000–£7,550. Your fixed price follows the survey.

Can you match the blocks to my house in Aberystwyth?

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.

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.

Replace an old drive near Aberystwyth

Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Dyfed:

Other block paving services in Aberystwyth

Or see all block paving services in Aberystwyth.

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we will come back to you to arrange a visit or a price from photos.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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