What to know before a replacement block drive in Hinckley
In Hinckley, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Block drives laid twenty or thirty years ago are often ready for re-laying rather than replacing, because sound blocks outlast a weak base.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Hinckley?
Expect replacement block drives in Hinckley to come in at around £95–£180 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 45 m² replacement drive usually comes to between £4,300 and £8,100.
| Item | Guide 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 East Midlands, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a replacement block drive involve?
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
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
What the survey covers
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
Do you need permission in Hinckley?
Hinckley 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.
What happens next
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
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Replace an old drive in Hinckley: questions
Is the survey in Hinckley 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.
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 you cover Wigston, Leicester and Coalville?
Yes. We cover Hinckley and the places around it, including Wigston, Leicester and Coalville, and the rest of Leicestershire.
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.
Replace an old drive near Hinckley
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Leicestershire:
- Replace an old drive in Wigston
- Replace an old drive in Leicester
- Replace an old drive in Coalville
- Replace an old drive in Oadby
- Replace an old drive in Loughborough
