Do I need planning permission for my driveway?

Not required if the surface is permeable OR run-off is directed to permeable ground within your curtilage. If neither applies and the paved area exceeds 5m², full planning permission is needed. Most refused. Permeable resin-bound or permeable block paving is the safe default and Builderr's standard spec.

How long does a driveway take to install?

Typical 30m² driveway: 5–8 working days. Day 1–2 dig out, base prep. Day 3–4 sub-base + edging. Day 5–6 laying course + blocks (or resin pour). Day 7–8 jointing, sealing, cleaning. Add 2–4 weeks for dropped kerb (council Highways application) if not already in place.

What is the most durable driveway surface?

Natural stone setts (granite, hard sandstone) — 50+ year life, mid-grey/buff colours pair with London brick. Premium block paving (clay, not concrete) 30–40-year life. Resin-bound 15–20-year life — surface aggregate can dull on heavy-traffic drives. Concrete impermeable so generally avoided.

Driveway Cost London 2026 | Builderr

How Much Does a New Driveway Cost in London?

London driveway cost runs £4,500–£18,500 for a typical 25–35m² front garden. Resin-bound permeable £150–£220/m²; block paving £95–£165/m²; natural stone setts £225–£385/m²; concrete £85–£135/m². SUDS-compliant permeable surface mandatory for any new paving over 5m² (planning permission required otherwise). Add £1,200–£3,800 dropped kerb.

Surface options and cost per m²

Resin-bound aggregate (permeable, SUDS-compliant by default): £150–£220/m² supplied + laid; UV-stable polyurethane resin + 6–10mm decorative aggregate; 15–20-year life; needs 18°C+ dry weather to install. Block paving (clay or concrete): £95–£165/m²; permeable variants (Tobermore Hydropave, Marshalls Drivesett Argent Priora) add £15–£25/m²; 25+ year life with occasional re-sanding. Natural stone setts (granite, sandstone, Yorkstone): £225–£385/m² supplied + laid; bedded on lime mortar with permeable joints for SUDS compliance; 50+ year life; premium spec. Plain concrete (broom-finished or exposed aggregate): £85–£135/m²; cheapest but impermeable — requires positive drainage to soakaway or rain garden to be planning-compliant. Tarmac/asphalt: £55–£95/m² — generally non-permeable; only viable if directing run-off to permeable area.

SUDS rules and planning trap

Since October 2008, paving more than 5m² in a front garden requires planning permission unless the surface is permeable OR the run-off drains to a permeable area within the curtilage (lawn, planted bed, soakaway). Most London boroughs enforce this aggressively — Camden, Islington, Hackney, Wandsworth and Lambeth all routinely refuse retrospective applications for impermeable driveways and require removal. Builderr's standard front-garden spec is permeable resin-bound or permeable block paving as default — no planning needed, no risk. If you want impermeable stone setts for aesthetic reasons, we design a soakaway crate (£850–£1,850 supplied + dug) sized to the run-off catchment to keep the project PD-compliant.

Build-up and edge restraint

Permeable block-paving build-up: 150mm Type 3 sub-base (open-graded crushed stone, not Type 1 — Type 1 is impermeable), 50mm laying course (2–6mm clean grit), 60–80mm block + permeable jointing grit (2–5mm). Total dig 260–290mm. Edge restraint: concrete haunch to all edges; flush kerb to dropped-kerb side; 100mm upstand to lawn/bed sides. Resin-bound build-up: 100mm porous asphalt base (or porous concrete) + 18mm resin-aggregate wear course. Existing concrete drives can be overlaid if sound + permeable (drilled drainage paths required if existing slab impermeable).