Planning a replacement block drive in Armadale
Armadale is a smaller town, and many of its homes have more frontage to work with than city houses, which leaves room for borders and planting.
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 Armadale?
Guide price in Armadale: £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.
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
What the survey covers
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
Do you need permission in Armadale?
Armadale 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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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.
What you can expect from us
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Replace an old drive in Armadale: 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.
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 Whitburn, Bathgate and Livingston?
Yes. We cover Armadale and the places around it, including Whitburn, Bathgate and Livingston, and the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Is the survey in Armadale 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 Armadale
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Edinburgh and the Lothians:
- Replace an old drive in Whitburn
- Replace an old drive in Bathgate
- Replace an old drive in Livingston
- Replace an old drive in Linlithgow
- Replace an old drive in Broxburn
- Replace an old drive in Penicuik
