What to know before a replacement block drive in Porthcawl
Around Porthcawl, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.
Hilly streets in much of Wales mean many drives slope, which shapes the falls, the edging and the water route.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Porthcawl?
Most replacement block drive quotes in Wales fall within £90–£165 per m² including VAT. A 45 m² replacement drive would usually be about £4,000–£7,550, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Replace tarmac or concrete with block (incl. break-out) | £90–£165 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9.50–£35 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£45 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£930 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £930–£2,800 |
Guide figures for Wales, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
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.
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- 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
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
What we check on a Porthcawl survey
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
Planning and kerb rules in Porthcawl
Porthcawl is in Wales, so these rules apply:
In Wales, any new or replacement hard surface at the front of a house should be permeable or drain to a permeable area within the property to avoid needing planning permission. Unlike England, there is no 5 m² allowance for new paving; only repairs of up to 5 m² of existing surface are exempt.
Since January 2019, construction work covering 100 m² or more with drainage implications, including drives and patios, needs approval from the local SuDS Approving Body (SAB) before work starts, even where planning permission is not needed.
A dropped kerb needs your council's approval as highway authority, and a new access onto a classified road 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
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
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Replace an old drive in Porthcawl: questions
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Porthcawl?
Our guide for Porthcawl is £90–£165 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £4,000–£7,550. 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 Porthcawl?
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.
Do you cover Pyle, Bridgend and Aberkenfig?
Yes. We cover Porthcawl and the places around it, including Pyle, Bridgend and Aberkenfig, and the rest of Mid Glamorgan.
Replace an old drive near Porthcawl
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Mid Glamorgan:
- Replace an old drive in Pyle
- Replace an old drive in Bridgend
- Replace an old drive in Aberkenfig
- Replace an old drive in Maesteg
- Replace an old drive in Pencoed
- Replace an old drive in Tonyrefail
