Planning a sunken area repair in Cheltenham
Across Cheltenham, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
The South West is wetter than the east of England, so falls and drainage are planned before the pattern is chosen.
How much does a sunken area repair cost in Cheltenham?
Most sunken area repair quotes in the South West fall within £300–£1,200 including VAT, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Sunken or rutted patch repaired | £300–£1,200 |
| Small repair (a few blocks or a short trench) | £200–£650 |
| Lift and re-lay on a sound base | £35–£80 per m² |
| Lift and re-lay with sub-base rebuilt | £60–£110 per m² |
Guide figures for the South West, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
Common causes are a sub-base that was too thin or not compacted, a laying course that was too thick, water washing sand out through a broken drain, or a trench that was never properly filled. Re-levelling means lifting the blocks in and around the dip, finding and fixing the cause, rebuilding and compacting the layers, and relaying the same blocks so they match.
- New laying course screeded to the correct level and falls
- Same blocks relaid, re-jointed and compacted
- Investigation of the cause (drain, sub-base, laying course, edging)
- Sub-base dug out and rebuilt where it has failed
- Blocks lifted, cleaned and stacked for re-use
How we find the cause
- Whether the edging has moved or was never set in concrete
- Replacement blocks or hidden blocks to swap in
- What caused the dip or movement: base, laying course, edging or drains
- How much of the area needs lifting to blend the repair
- Trees, roots and past trenches
From enquiry to finished paving
Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.
How we work
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Sunken paving in Cheltenham: questions
Can you repair block paving in Cheltenham without replacing it?
Usually, yes. We lift the affected blocks, fix the bed or base, and re-lay the same blocks so the repair matches.
Can you send someone just to look?
For larger or unclear problems we visit; for small repairs, clear photos with a tape measure in shot are often enough to price it.
Why does block paving sink?
Most dips come from a thin or poorly compacted sub-base, too much sand under the blocks, failed edging, or water washing material out from a broken drain.
Do you cover Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Stroud?
Yes. We cover Cheltenham and the places around it, including Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Stroud, and the rest of Gloucestershire.
Sunken paving near Cheltenham
Nearby towns we cover for sunken paving, and sunken paving across Gloucestershire:
- Sunken paving in Tewkesbury
- Sunken paving in Gloucester
- Sunken paving in Stroud
- Sunken paving in Cirencester
