Greater Manchester · Replace an old drive

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Failsworth

If you are in Failsworth (M35, M40) and want a replacement block drive, we will come out, measure up and give you a fixed written price once the specification is agreed.

  • Postcodes M35, M40
  • £95–£180 per m² inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Driveway half old cracked tarmac and half new brindle herringbone block paving

What to know before a replacement block drive in Failsworth

Failsworth is a smaller town, and many of its homes have more frontage to work with than city houses, which leaves room for borders and planting.

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 Failsworth?

Guide price in Failsworth£95–£180 per m²Including VAT at 20%

For Failsworth, our guide is £95–£180 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is likely to be £4,300–£8,100. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.

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 does a replacement block drive involve?

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.

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

Before we price your replacement block drive

  • Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
  • Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
  • Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
  • The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
  • Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run

Planning and kerb rules in Failsworth

Failsworth 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

  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.

Repair before replace

If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.

Clean finish

The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.

Edges set in concrete

Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.

Replace an old drive in Failsworth: questions

How much does a replacement block drive cost in Failsworth?

Our guide for Failsworth is £95–£180 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £4,300–£8,100. Your fixed price follows the survey.

Can you match the blocks to my house in Failsworth?

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.

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.

Is the survey in Failsworth 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.

Replace an old drive near Failsworth

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

Other block paving services in Failsworth

Or see all block paving services in Failsworth.

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Ready to talk about your replacement block drive? Send your postcode and a few details, and we will arrange the next step.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
CallGet a quote