Merseyside · Replace an old drive

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Bootle

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Bootle: built on a properly dug and compacted base, edged in concrete and laid to falls that take water away from the house.

  • Postcodes L21, L22, L20
  • £95–£180 per m² inc VAT
  • Free survey for new paving
Driveway half old cracked tarmac and half new brindle herringbone block paving

Planning a replacement block drive in Bootle

In Bootle, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.

Terraced streets across the North West often have very short frontages, so we check parking depth before quoting a conversion.

How much does a replacement block drive cost in Bootle?

Guide price in Bootle£95–£180 per m²Including VAT at 20%

Most replacement block drive quotes in the North West fall within £95–£180 per m² including VAT. A 45 m² replacement drive would usually be about £4,300–£8,100, with any extras listed separately on your quote.

ItemGuide 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 North West, 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
  • Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
  • Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road

Before we price your replacement block drive

  • Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
  • Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
  • Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
  • Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
  • The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?

Planning and kerb rules in Bootle

Bootle 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

  1. Quick details

    Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.

  2. On-site check

    Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.

  3. Itemised quote

    Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.

  4. Laid and finished

    Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.

Why choose Block Paving Contractors

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.

Repair before replace

If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.

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.

Replace an old drive in Bootle: 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 Bootle?

Our guide for Bootle is £95–£180 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £4,300–£8,100. 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.

Can you match the blocks to my house in Bootle?

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.

Replace an old drive near Bootle

Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Merseyside:

Other block paving services in Bootle

Or see all block paving services in Bootle.

Next step

Get a guide price in two minutes

Want a number before a visit? Try the guide price tool, then book a survey to fix it.

Hands laying charcoal paving blocks in herringbone on a sand bed
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