Block Paving Driveways: Costs, Materials and Installation

Thinking about getting your front garden paved for off-street parking? In London, a properly installed block paving driveway costs between £80 and £150 per square metre in 2026, depending on the blocks you choose and how much preparation your ground needs. But before you get quotes, there are a few things you need to know – especially about drainage regulations that catch a lot of homeowners out.

Block Paving vs Resin vs Concrete: Which Should You Choose?

I've laid all three across London driveways, and each has its place. Here's my honest comparison:

For a typical London front garden of 25-35 square metres, you're looking at £2,500 to £5,000 for the surfacing alone. Add groundworks, drainage, and a dropped kerb, and a complete project typically runs £4,500 to £8,000.

The Drainage Rules You Can't Ignore

Since 2008, you need planning permission to pave over more than 5 square metres of your front garden with traditional impermeable materials. This applies to all of Greater London and catches a lot of people out.

You have three options to stay legal without needing planning permission:

• Use permeable paving: Water drains through the blocks and substrate into the ground. This is the simplest solution – I install a 150mm MOT Type 3 sub-base which acts as a soakaway.
• Drain to a soakaway: If you want standard blocks, you can install a soakaway in your garden. This needs to be at least 5 metres from the house and properly sized – typically a 1m³ crate for an average driveway.
• Drain to a rain garden or lawn: If you've got space, you can slope the drive to drain onto a planted area. Needs at least 2 square metres of planting per 10 square metres of paving.

What you absolutely cannot do is let rainwater run onto the pavement or road. That's a surefire way to get the council involved, and they can make you dig it all up.

Getting a Dropped Kerb: The Council Process

If you don't already have a vehicle crossover (dropped kerb), you'll need to apply to your borough council. Here's what to expect:

• Application fee: £150-350 depending on the borough
• Technical inspection: The council checks for nearby trees, lamp posts, and sight lines
• Construction cost: £1,200-2,500 for a standard single crossover (council contractors only)
• Timeline: 8-16 weeks from application to completion

In most London boroughs, only approved council contractors can do the actual kerb work – you can't use your own builder for this bit. The crossover must be a minimum width (usually 2.7m for a single vehicle) and there are restrictions near junctions, bus stops, and pedestrian crossings.

What's Actually Included in a Block Paving Quote?

A proper block paving installation should include:

• Excavation: Typically 200-250mm depth for a driveway
• Disposal: All that soil and rubble needs to go somewhere – this is often £300-600 alone
• Sub-base: 150mm compacted MOT Type 1 (or Type 3 for permeable)
• Sharp sand layer: 50mm screeded bed for the blocks
• Blocks: Typically 50mm thick for driveways, 60mm for heavy use
• Edging: Concrete haunched edge restraints to stop blocks spreading
• Kiln-dried sand: Brushed into joints and compacted

Watch out for quotes that don't include excavation, disposal, or proper sub-base. I've seen too many driveways sink and spread because someone skimped on the groundworks to win the job.

Maintenance: Keeping It Looking Good

Block paving is pretty low maintenance, but it does need some attention:

• Annual jet wash: Removes algae and grime. Use a surface cleaner attachment, not a direct jet that blasts out the sand.
• Re-sanding: Every 2-3 years, brush fresh kiln-dried sand into the joints. This stops the blocks rocking and reduces weed growth.
• Weed control: A polymeric jointing sand (about £25 per 25kg bag) sets solid and stops weeds better than standard sand.
• Oil stains: Deal with them quickly using a proprietary degreaser. Once they've soaked in, they're permanent.

The big advantage of block paving over concrete or resin? If you need to access pipes or cables underneath, you can lift the blocks, do the work, and relay them. With a monolithic surface, you're looking at cutting and patching.

Typical Project Costs: Real Examples

Here's what recent clients in London have paid:

• Victorian terrace in Lewisham (18 sqm): £3,800 – permeable blocks, new drainage, no crossover needed (existing one)
• Semi in Bromley (32 sqm): £6,200 – standard blocks with soakaway, including new dropped kerb
• Detached in Harrow (48 sqm): £8,500 – premium tumbled blocks, double crossover, permeable system