Planning a replacement block drive in Braintree
Homes in Braintree include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Clay soils are common in parts of the East of England, so drainage and sub-base depth get extra attention.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Braintree?
Most replacement block drive quotes in the East of England fall within £100–£190 per m² including VAT. A 45 m² replacement drive would usually be about £4,500–£8,500, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Replace tarmac or concrete with block (incl. break-out) | £100–£190 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £370–£1,050 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,050–£3,150 |
Guide figures for the East of England, 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.
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- 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
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
What we check on a Braintree survey
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
Rules for front drives in Braintree
Braintree is in England, so these rules apply:
In England, paving in front of the house that covers more than 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway inside your boundary. Permeable block paving, or standard blocks laid to fall onto a planted strip, avoid the need for permission in most cases.
Flats and maisonettes, listed buildings, and homes covered by an Article 4 direction can have tighter rules, and conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes restrict some permitted development.
A dropped kerb needs your local highway authority's approval (usually the county, unitary, metropolitan or London borough council), and a new access onto an A, B or C classified road also 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
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Replace an old drive in Braintree: questions
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Braintree?
In England, a front drive over 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn or border within your boundary. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Braintree?
Our guide for Braintree is £100–£190 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £4,500–£8,500. Your fixed price follows the survey.
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.
Replace an old drive near Braintree
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Essex:
- Replace an old drive in Witham
- Replace an old drive in Chelmsford
- Replace an old drive in Maldon
- Replace an old drive in Colchester
- Replace an old drive in Billericay
- Replace an old drive in Wickford
