What to know before a replacement block drive in Sudbury
Around Sudbury, plots are often larger and drives longer, so edging, falls and the route the water takes need planning.
Clay soils are common in parts of the East of England, so drainage and sub-base depth get extra attention.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Sudbury?
In the East of England, a replacement block drive usually costs £100–£190 per m² including VAT. For a 45 m² replacement drive, that is roughly £4,500–£8,500. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Replace tarmac or concrete with block (incl. break-out) | £100–£190 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £370–£1,050 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,050–£3,150 |
Guide figures for the East of England, 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.
- 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 Sudbury survey
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Trees and roots near the drive
Do you need permission in Sudbury?
Sudbury 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.
How it works
Send the basics
Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.
Survey
We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.
Written quote
An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.
The work
Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.
How we work
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Replace an old drive in Sudbury: questions
Do you cover Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket?
Yes. We cover Sudbury and the places around it, including Haverhill, Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket, and the rest of Suffolk.
Is the survey in Sudbury 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.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Sudbury?
Our guide for Sudbury is £100–£190 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £4,500–£8,500. Your fixed price follows the survey.
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.
Replace an old drive near Sudbury
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Suffolk:
- Replace an old drive in Haverhill
- Replace an old drive in Bury St Edmunds
- Replace an old drive in Stowmarket
- Replace an old drive in Ipswich
