What to know before a replacement block drive in Broadstairs
In and around Broadstairs, village-style frontages sit alongside newer cul-de-sacs, so the right block often depends on the age of the house.
Planning-sensitive towns and conservation areas are common in the South East, so we check the front-garden rules before quoting.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Broadstairs?
For Broadstairs, our guide is £105–£195 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is likely to be £4,600–£8,750. 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) | £105–£195 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£45 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £380–£1,100 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,100–£3,250 |
Guide figures for the South East, 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.
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
What we check on a Broadstairs survey
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
Do you need permission in Broadstairs?
Broadstairs 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
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Replace an old drive in Broadstairs: questions
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.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Broadstairs?
Our guide for Broadstairs is £105–£195 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £4,600–£8,750. Your fixed price follows the survey.
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.
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Broadstairs?
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 Broadstairs
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Kent:
- Replace an old drive in Ramsgate
- Replace an old drive in Margate
- Replace an old drive in Deal
- Replace an old drive in Herne Bay
- Replace an old drive in Canterbury
- Replace an old drive in Dover
