Greater Manchester · Replace an old drive

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Urmston

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

  • Postcodes M41, M44, M31
  • £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 Urmston

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

The North West is one of the wetter parts of England, so falls, channel drains and permeable options matter more than usual.

How much does a replacement block drive cost in Urmston?

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

In the North West, a replacement block drive usually costs £95–£180 per m² including VAT. For a 45 m² replacement drive, that is roughly £4,300–£8,100. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.

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 is included?

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.

  • 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
  • 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

What the survey covers

  • Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
  • The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
  • Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
  • Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
  • Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house

Do you need permission in Urmston?

Urmston 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. Quick details

    Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.

  2. On-site check

    Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.

  3. Itemised quote

    Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.

  4. Laid and finished

    Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.

What you can expect from us

Clean finish

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

Repair before replace

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

The dig and sub-base in writing

Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.

Water planned first

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

Replace an old drive in Urmston: questions

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 Urmston?

Our guide for Urmston 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.

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.

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

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 Urmston

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

Other block paving services in Urmston

Or see all block paving services in Urmston.

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

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

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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