Somerset · Replace an old drive

Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Taunton

Planning a replacement block drive in Taunton? Start with a free survey: we check levels against the damp-proof course, the ground, the drainage and the kerb before pricing anything.

  • Postcodes TA1, TA2, TA3
  • £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 Taunton

Homes in Taunton include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.

Sloping plots are common in the South West, which affects edging, steps and where the water runs.

How much does a replacement block drive cost in Taunton?

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

In the South West, a replacement block drive usually costs £95–£180 per m² including VAT. For a 45 m² replacement drive, that is roughly £4,300–£8,100. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.

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 South West, 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.

  • 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
  • New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
  • Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road

Before we price your replacement block drive

  • Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
  • Trees and roots near the drive
  • Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
  • Whether front-garden planning rules apply
  • Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run

Do you need permission in Taunton?

Taunton 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. Send the basics

    Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.

  2. Survey

    We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.

  3. Written quote

    An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.

  4. The work

    Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.

What you can expect from us

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.

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 Taunton: questions

Do you cover Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea and Yeovil?

Yes. We cover Taunton and the places around it, including Bridgwater, Burnham-on-Sea and Yeovil, and the rest of Somerset.

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.

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.

Is the survey in Taunton 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.

Replace an old drive near Taunton

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

Other block paving services in Taunton

Or see all block paving services in Taunton.

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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