Planning a replacement block drive in Becontree
Becontree has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
Front gardens in much of London are short, so parking depth and the dropped kerb usually decide whether a drive is possible.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Becontree?
Expect replacement block drives in Becontree to come in at around £115–£215 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 45 m² replacement drive usually comes to between £5,150 and £9,700.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Replace tarmac or concrete with block (incl. break-out) | £115–£215 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £12–£50 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £25–£60 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £420–£1,200 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,200–£3,600 |
Guide figures for London, 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
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
What we check on a Becontree survey
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
Do you need permission in Becontree?
Becontree 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.
How it works
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
How we work
One point of contact
You deal with one team from survey to sign-off, with work carried out by paving teams working under S&K.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Replace an old drive in Becontree: questions
Do you cover Dagenham, Barking and Ilford?
Yes. We cover Becontree and the places around it, including Dagenham, Barking and Ilford, and the rest of Greater London.
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Becontree?
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 Becontree?
Our guide for Becontree is £115–£215 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £5,150–£9,700. Your fixed price follows the survey.
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 Becontree
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Greater London:
- Replace an old drive in Dagenham
- Replace an old drive in Barking
- Replace an old drive in Ilford
- Replace an old drive in Romford
- Replace an old drive in Thamesmead
- Replace an old drive in Leytonstone
