Planning a replacement block drive in Sunbury-on-Thames
Homes in Sunbury-on-Thames include plenty of semis and detached houses with room for a drive, plus older terraces where parking is tighter.
Planning-sensitive towns and conservation areas are common in the South East, so we check the front-garden rules before quoting.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Sunbury-on-Thames?
Most replacement block drive quotes in the South East fall within £105–£195 per m² including VAT. A 45 m² replacement drive would usually be about £4,600–£8,750, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Replace tarmac or concrete with block (incl. break-out) | £105–£195 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £11–£45 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £380–£1,100 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,100–£3,250 |
Guide figures for the South East, 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.
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
What the survey covers
- Levels against the damp-proof course (the finished paving must sit at least 150 mm below it)
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
Rules for front drives in Sunbury-on-Thames
Sunbury-on-Thames 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.
What you can expect from us
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Replace an old drive in Sunbury-on-Thames: questions
Is the survey in Sunbury-on-Thames 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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Sunbury-on-Thames?
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.
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 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.
Replace an old drive near Sunbury-on-Thames
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Surrey:
- Replace an old drive in Walton-on-Thames
- Replace an old drive in Ashford, Surrey
- Replace an old drive in Esher
- Replace an old drive in Staines-upon-Thames
- Replace an old drive in Egham
- Replace an old drive in Epsom
