Replacing tarmac or concrete with block paving in Leeds: the local picture
Leeds has a big mix of housing, from older terraces near the centre to newer estates further out, so no two drives here start from the same ground.
Sloping drives are common in parts of Yorkshire, which affects falls, steps and drainage at the bottom of the drive.
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Leeds?
Expect replacement block drives in Leeds to come in at around £85–£160 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 45 m² replacement drive usually comes to between £3,850 and £7,300.
| 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 Yorkshire and the Humber, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
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.
- Assessment of the old base: keep, top up or replace
- Levels set below the damp-proof course with falls away from the house
- Drainage added where the old drive sent water to the house or road
- New edging, sub-base where needed, and the block drive
- Break-out of the old surface with waste removal and skip or grab lorry
What we check on a Leeds survey
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
Rules for front drives in Leeds
Leeds 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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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.
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 Leeds: questions
How much does a replacement block drive cost in Leeds?
Our guide for Leeds 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 I need planning permission for a replacement block drive in Leeds?
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.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Leeds?
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.
Do you cover Morley, Pudsey and Lofthouse?
Yes. We cover Leeds and the places around it, including Morley, Pudsey and Lofthouse, and the rest of West Yorkshire.
Replace an old drive near Leeds
Nearby towns we cover for replace an old drive, and replace an old drive across West Yorkshire:
- Replace an old drive in Morley
- Replace an old drive in Pudsey
- Replace an old drive in Lofthouse
- Replace an old drive in Yeadon
- Replace an old drive in Dewsbury
- Replace an old drive in Wakefield
