What to know before a replacement block drive in South Shields
South Shields has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
Wind-driven rain on the North East coast makes falls and a well-filled joint more important.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in South Shields?
Most replacement block drive quotes in the North East fall within £85–£160 per m² including VAT. A 45 m² replacement drive would usually be about £3,850–£7,300, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Replace tarmac or concrete with block (incl. break-out) | £85–£160 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £9–£35 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £18–£45 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £320–£900 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £900–£2,700 |
Guide figures for the North East, 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.
- 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
Before we price your replacement block drive
- Block range, thickness, colour and pattern to suit the house
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Where an electric vehicle charger cable might run
Rules for front drives in South Shields
South Shields 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
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
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.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Replace an old drive in South Shields: questions
How much does a replacement block drive cost in South Shields?
Our guide for South Shields is £85–£160 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² replacement drive is usually about £3,850–£7,300. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do you cover Tynemouth, Jarrow and Whitley Bay?
Yes. We cover South Shields and the places around it, including Tynemouth, Jarrow and Whitley Bay, and the rest of Tyne and Wear.
Do I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in South Shields?
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 South Shields 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 South Shields
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across Tyne and Wear:
- Replace an old drive in Tynemouth
- Replace an old drive in Jarrow
- Replace an old drive in Whitley Bay
- Replace an old drive in Hebburn
- Replace an old drive in Wallsend
- Replace an old drive in Felling
