Update 2022: The cost of new driveways and other home improvement projects has skyrocketed over the last 18 months. This has been reported in the media and confirmed by our own recent research. The driveway prices found via this page are subject to change, if you require a firm price, you can get a customised quotation by filling out the form on this page. (Updated April 2022).
Are you thinking about installing a new driveway on your property in 2022? If so, this page is for you.
The team here at Job Prices has many years of experience in the home improvement sector and we have researched prices for several different types of driveway surfaces.
On this page, you will discover prices and information for:
- concrete driveways, how much they cost and how modern techniques mean they are much more attractive than they were a few decades ago.
- prices for tarmac, block and gravel driveways.
- key information about drainage and how building regulation changes could affect your choice of driveway material.
- we’ll explain the effect a new driveway has on house price and how to make the most of your front garden.
Update: April 2022
Due to the length of this page, we have split the contents into separate smaller pages that are easier to read, just click through to the relevant page:
Block Paving Driveway Cost
Block paving is one of the most visually appealing materials you can use on your new driveway.
There are dozens of different types of blocks and these can be laid into thousands of different patterns.
It can also be combined with gravel and tarmac and is robust, often lasting for many decades with very little maintenance required.
See our block paving driveway price guide here.
Tarmac Driveway Prices
Traditional, simple and affordable, tarmac has been the material of choice for decades and we are still fans of it now.
But how much does a tarmac driveway cost in 2022?
See our guide to tarmac driveway pricing here.
Gravel and Stone Driveways
A gravel driveway is by far the cheapest and quickest to install, especially if the existing driveway’s sub-base is sound.
Some people dislike the noise gravel makes and the fact that some of the stones end up in the road. We have a pro tip for you: don’t use small gravel as it gets stuck in the tyre tread, use a larger stone and gravel migration won’t be an issue.
See our guide to gravel driveways here.
PIC Driveway Cost
PIC stands for pattern imprinted concrete and this type of driveway is becoming more and more popular.
Concrete is poured into a shuttered area and the surface is covered in a dye and stamped with a pattern. There are hundreds of patterns and colours to choose from, so you can create a truly custom driveway.
Explore this page to find out more about the pros and cons of PIC driveways.
Driveway Drainage Regulations
In response to the extreme weather and subsequent flooding experienced during the last decade or so, the government has brought in regulations regarding driveway drainage.
This is partly because more and more homeowners are choosing to pave over their front lawns for extra driveway space. This has led to an unacceptable amount of surface water entering the drainage system and overwhelming the pipes.
The end result is more frequent and damaging flash floods.
Here is an overview of the regulations:
You will need to make an allowance for drainage when replacing your driveway if it’s greater than 5 square metres.
You do not need to make any changes to an existing driveway, only new driveways constructed after October 2008.
These regulations only apply to driveways and hard surfaces to the front of a house. They do not apply to patios in the rear garden.
Your Options
You have several options available:
- use a permeable material, these are more expensive but since the new regulations came into force the price of permeable blocks and tarmac has gone down considerably.
- make an allowance for drainage with a channel leading to a soakaway (see photo).
- avoid raised borders so excess water runs off into a lawn or flowerbed.
- use a water storage system – costly and not always practical.
- minimise the amount of space dedicated to the driveway (see photos).
- if none of the above is possible then apply for planning permission to cover the driveway and allow rainwater to discharge onto the highway (only likely to be granted if you have a good reason).
Minimise the size of the driveway with permeable material on either side of the hard surface
Drainage channel at the boundary. Also, note how the edge of the driveway isn’t raised so excess water runs off onto the lawn and flowerbeds for natural drainage. This is a very good example of a professionally constructed driveway. Photo sourced from Gary Cooper Paving
Permeable Blocks:
Watch this video of a dumper truck emptying hundreds of gallons of water onto a new permeable block paving surface.
I guess this road will never suffer from flooding…
Will a New Driveway Increase House Value?
This is a good question and the short answer is no.
The long answer is maybe.
Replacing a driveway with one of the same size is unlikely to increase the value of the house but in some cases, increasing the size of the driveway to allow an extra car to fit on it will.
If you live in an area where there is plenty of off-road parking then an extra parking space on a driveway probably isn’t a big deal. If however, you live in the city or anywhere parking is an issue then that extra space could be a deal-breaker for a potential buyer.
Research has repeatedly shown that parking is a key concern of many home buyers, especially in London and other congested areas.
For many people, a front garden is rarely used and increasing the size of the driveway can, in some cases, increase house value.
What About Planning Permission for a New or Enlarged Driveway?
Driveways, both replacements and enlargements, are covered by “permitted planning” regulations (which we encourage you to explore) so for a typical house, you don’t need planning permission provided you make an allowance for drainage.
Where Next?
You can either get a quote for a new driveway or check out our full price list:
