Planning a replacement block drive in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
Inter-war semis with narrow front gardens are common in the West Midlands, so front garden conversions and drive widenings are often the practical choice.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Stoke-on-Trent?
For Stoke-on-Trent, our guide is £95–£180 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is likely to be £4,300–£8,100. 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) | £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 West Midlands, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What you get with our replace an old drive service
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.
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
What the survey covers
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
Rules for front drives in Stoke-on-Trent
Stoke-on-Trent 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
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
What you can expect from us
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
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.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Replace an old drive in Stoke-on-Trent: questions
Do you cover Newcastle-under-Lyme, Longton and Kidsgrove?
Yes. We cover Stoke-on-Trent and the places around it, including Newcastle-under-Lyme, Longton and Kidsgrove, and the rest of Staffordshire.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Stoke-on-Trent?
Our guide for Stoke-on-Trent 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.
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Stoke-on-Trent?
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.
Is the survey in Stoke-on-Trent 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 Stoke-on-Trent
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Staffordshire:
- Replace an old drive in Newcastle-under-Lyme
- Replace an old drive in Longton
- Replace an old drive in Kidsgrove
- Replace an old drive in Stafford
- Replace an old drive in Rugeley
- Replace an old drive in Cannock
