Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in South Croydon: the local picture
Homes in South Croydon include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Many London streets have controlled parking and narrow frontages, so we measure the car space and the crossover before anything else.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in South Croydon?
Most replacement block drive quotes in London fall within £115–£215 per m² including VAT. A 45 m² replacement drive would usually be about £5,150–£9,700, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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 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
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
What we check on a South Croydon 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
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
Do you need permission in South Croydon?
South Croydon 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
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.
What you can expect from us
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
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 South Croydon: questions
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in South Croydon?
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.
Is the survey in South Croydon 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.
Do you cover Croydon, Purley and Carshalton?
Yes. We cover South Croydon and the places around it, including Croydon, Purley and Carshalton, and the rest of Greater London.
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 South Croydon
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Greater London:
- Replace an old drive in Croydon
- Replace an old drive in Purley
- Replace an old drive in Carshalton
- Replace an old drive in Mitcham
- Replace an old drive in Beckenham
- Replace an old drive in Sutton
