What to know before a replacement block drive in Herne Bay
Herne Bay is a smaller town, and many of its homes have more frontage to work with than city houses, which leaves room for borders and planting.
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 Herne Bay?
For Herne Bay, 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 you get with our replace an old drive service
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.
- 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
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
What the survey covers
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
Do you need permission in Herne Bay?
Herne Bay 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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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 Herne Bay: 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.
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Herne Bay?
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 much does a replacement block drive cost in Herne Bay?
Our guide for Herne Bay 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.
Do you cover Whitstable, Canterbury and Faversham?
Yes. We cover Herne Bay and the places around it, including Whitstable, Canterbury and Faversham, and the rest of Kent.
Replace an old drive near Herne Bay
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Kent:
- Replace an old drive in Whitstable
- Replace an old drive in Canterbury
- Replace an old drive in Faversham
- Replace an old drive in Margate
- Replace an old drive in Ramsgate
- Replace an old drive in Broadstairs
