Planning a replacement block drive in Potters Bar
Around Potters Bar, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.
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 Potters Bar?
Guide price in Potters Bar: £100–£190 per m² including VAT, which puts a 45 m² replacement drive at about £4,500–£8,500. These are East of England guide figures; the survey confirms the real price before you commit.
| 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.
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- 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
What we check on a Potters Bar survey
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
Do you need permission in Potters Bar?
Potters Bar 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
Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.
How we work
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Replace an old drive in Potters Bar: 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Potters Bar?
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 Potters Bar 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 you cover Borehamwood, Hatfield and Cheshunt?
Yes. We cover Potters Bar and the places around it, including Borehamwood, Hatfield and Cheshunt, and the rest of Hertfordshire.
Replace an old drive near Potters Bar
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Hertfordshire:
- Replace an old drive in Borehamwood
- Replace an old drive in Hatfield
- Replace an old drive in Cheshunt
- Replace an old drive in Welwyn Garden City
- Replace an old drive in St Albans
- Replace an old drive in Hertford
