Greater Manchester · Replace an old drive

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Ashton-under-Lyne

We quote replacement block drives throughout Ashton-under-Lyne and Greater Manchester. The survey sets the depth of dig and the drainage; the pattern and colour are your choice.

  • Postcodes OL7, OL6
  • £95–£180 per m² inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Driveway half old cracked tarmac and half new brindle herringbone block paving

Planning a replacement block drive in Ashton-under-Lyne

In Ashton-under-Lyne, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.

Terraced streets across the North West often have very short frontages, so we check parking depth before quoting a conversion.

How much does a replacement block drive cost in Ashton-under-Lyne?

Guide price in Ashton-under-Lyne£95–£180 per m²Including VAT at 20%

Expect replacement block drives in Ashton-under-Lyne to come in at around £95–£180 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 45 m² replacement drive usually comes to between £4,300 and £8,100.

ItemGuide 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 the North West, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.

What you get with our replace an old drive service

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.

  • Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
  • 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
  • New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
  • Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry

Before we price your replacement block drive

  • Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
  • Whether front-garden planning rules apply
  • Steps, thresholds and door heights
  • Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
  • Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway

Planning and kerb rules in Ashton-under-Lyne

Ashton-under-Lyne 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

  1. Send the basics

    Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.

  2. Survey

    We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.

  3. Written quote

    An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.

  4. The work

    Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.

Why choose Block Paving Contractors

Itemised quotes

Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.

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.

Replace an old drive in Ashton-under-Lyne: questions

Do you cover Stalybridge, Droylsden and Denton?

Yes. We cover Ashton-under-Lyne and the places around it, including Stalybridge, Droylsden and Denton, and the rest of Greater Manchester.

Can you match the blocks to my house in Ashton-under-Lyne?

We bring samples to the survey and suggest blocks and borders that suit the age and brick of the house. Final colour is your choice.

Is the survey in Ashton-under-Lyne 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 I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Ashton-under-Lyne?

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.

Replace an old drive near Ashton-under-Lyne

Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Greater Manchester:

Other block paving services in Ashton-under-Lyne

Or see all block paving services in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Get a guide price in a couple of minutes with our quote tool, or book a survey in Ashton-under-Lyne.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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