Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Shepherds Bush: the local picture
Shepherds Bush is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
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 Shepherds Bush?
For Shepherds Bush, our guide is £115–£215 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is likely to be £5,150–£9,700. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| 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 does a replacement block drive involve?
Sometimes the old base can be kept: a thick, sound concrete or well-compacted hardcore layer may only need trimming and topping up. Often it cannot, because it was too thin, has sunk or sits too high against the house. The survey checks levels against the damp-proof course and the existing base before the quote is written, so the price reflects the real dig.
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
What we check on a Shepherds Bush survey
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
Planning and kerb rules in Shepherds Bush
Shepherds Bush 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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
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.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Replace an old drive in Shepherds Bush: questions
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Shepherds Bush?
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 Shepherds Bush?
Our guide for Shepherds Bush 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.
Do you cover Chiswick, Fulham and Willesden?
Yes. We cover Shepherds Bush and the places around it, including Chiswick, Fulham and Willesden, and the rest of Greater London.
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.
Replace an old drive near Shepherds Bush
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Greater London:
- Replace an old drive in Chiswick
- Replace an old drive in Fulham
- Replace an old drive in Willesden
- Replace an old drive in Acton
- Replace an old drive in Putney
- Replace an old drive in Battersea
