Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Harpenden: the local picture
Homes in Harpenden include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Flat ground across much of the East means falls have to be built in carefully so water does not sit on the drive.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Harpenden?
For Harpenden, our guide is £100–£190 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is likely to be £4,500–£8,500. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Replace tarmac or concrete with block (incl. break-out) | £100–£190 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £370–£1,050 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,050–£3,150 |
Guide figures for the East of England, 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.
- 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
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
Before we price your replacement block drive
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
Planning and kerb rules in Harpenden
Harpenden 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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
One point of contact
You deal with one team from survey to sign-off, with work carried out by paving teams working under S&K.
Replace an old drive in Harpenden: questions
Do you cover St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and Welwyn Garden City?
Yes. We cover Harpenden and the places around it, including St Albans, Hemel Hempstead and Welwyn Garden City, and the rest of Hertfordshire.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Harpenden?
Our guide for Harpenden is £100–£190 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £4,500–£8,500. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Harpenden?
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.
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Harpenden?
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 Harpenden
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Hertfordshire:
- Replace an old drive in St Albans
- Replace an old drive in Hemel Hempstead
- Replace an old drive in Welwyn Garden City
- Replace an old drive in Hatfield
- Replace an old drive in Stevenage
- Replace an old drive in North Watford
