Greater Manchester · Replace an old drive

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Stretford

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Stretford: built on a properly dug and compacted base, edged in concrete and laid to falls that take water away from the house.

  • Postcodes M32
  • £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 Stretford

Homes in Stretford include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.

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 Stretford?

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

Most replacement block drive quotes in the North West fall within £95–£180 per m² including VAT. A 45 m² replacement drive would usually be about £4,300–£8,100, with any extras listed separately on your quote.

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?

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.

  • 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
  • New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
  • Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
  • Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace

What we check on a Stretford survey

  • Trees and roots near the drive
  • Whether front-garden planning rules apply
  • Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
  • The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
  • Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them

Rules for front drives in Stretford

Stretford 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

  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.

Water planned first

Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.

Honest timescales

We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.

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 Stretford: questions

Do you cover Old Trafford, Urmston and Sale?

Yes. We cover Stretford and the places around it, including Old Trafford, Urmston and Sale, and the rest of Greater Manchester.

Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Stretford?

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 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.

How much does a replacement block drive cost in Stretford?

Our guide for Stretford 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.

Replace an old drive near Stretford

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

Other block paving services in Stretford

Or see all block paving services in Stretford.

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Tell us what you have in mind for Stretford, and we will put a written price together.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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