Driveways
A driveway is a structure, not a surface. Most of the cost and almost all of the lifespan sits below the thing you can see. We dig to formation, build up in compacted layers, restrain the edges and set falls to drainage — then surface it in tarmac, block paving or resin.
Key facts
- Service
- Driveways
- Area covered
- Somerset, North Somerset & Bristol
- Typical cost
- £40–£120 per m² — Indicative only. A written price follows a site survey.
- Typical duration
- 3–6 days
- Expected lifespan
- 20–25 years with correct build-up
How much does a new driveway cost in Somerset?
A new driveway typically costs £40–£120 per square metre depending on surface type, excavation depth, spoil removal and drainage. Block paving sits at the upper end, tarmac at the lower. Indicative only. A written price follows a site survey.
The three things that move a price most are how much material has to come out, where it goes, and whether the drainage needs formal provision. We measure all three on site before quoting.
What is the correct build-up for a driveway?
Excavate to formation and compact the sub-grade, lay a geotextile membrane, then 150mm of Type 1 MOT sub-base compacted in two layers. Surface on top: 50mm AC20 binder plus 20mm AC6 for tarmac, or 50mm blocks on 30mm sharp sand for block paving.
- Formation
- Excavated and compacted sub-grade
- Separation
- Geotextile membrane
- Sub-base
- 150mm Type 1 MOT, compacted in layers
- Binder course
- 50mm AC20
- Surface course
- 20mm AC6
- Edge
- Haunched kerb or block edge restraint
How long does a driveway take to install?
A standard domestic driveway takes 3–6 days from first dig to finished surface. Day one is excavation and spoil removal, days two and three are sub-base and edgings, and the surface goes down last. Bad ground or added drainage adds a day or two.
Do I need planning permission for a driveway?
Usually not, provided the surface is permeable or surface water drains to a permeable area within your own boundary. Non-permeable driveways over five square metres draining to the highway do need permission. We set falls and drainage so the finished job complies either way.
What is actually under your driveway
Most of the cost and almost all of the lifespan sits below the surface. Select a layer to see its depth, material and why it matters.
AC6 surface course
20mm
The wearing layer. Fine graded, rolled hot, and the only part anyone ever sees.
Where do you carry out driveways?
Across Somerset, North Somerset and Bristol, within roughly 40 miles of our base. There is no travel charge and no postcode pricing.
- Weston-super-Mare
- Clevedon
- Portishead
- Nailsea
- Backwell
- Congresbury
- Yatton
- Banwell
- Winscombe
- Cheddar
- Wells
- Burnham-on-Sea
- Bridgwater
- Bristol
- Long Ashton
Other services
Tarmac Driveways
Machine and hand-laid tarmac driveways with a properly compacted Type 1 sub-base, AC20 binder course and AC6 surface course.
£40–£70 per m²
Block Paving
Concrete and clay block paving on a compacted sub-base and sharp sand laying course, with restrained edges and kiln-dried jointing sand.
£60–£100 per m²
Resin Bound Driveways
UV-stable resin bound aggregate over a sound bound base — seamless, permeable and smooth underfoot.
£70–£120 per m²
Commercial Surfacing
Car parks, access roads, yards and playgrounds surfaced with machine-laid tarmac, phased to keep sites operational.
£45–£90 per m²
Groundworks
Excavation, foundations, footings, drainage and hard landscaping — the work that happens before anything visible does.
priced by scope per m²
Frequently asked
Can you lay a driveway over an existing one?
Only where the existing base is sound and levels allow. Overlaying a failed base transfers the failure straight to the new surface. We core or dig a trial hole to check before recommending it.
What happens to the material you dig out?
It is loaded and removed under waste transfer documentation the same day where possible. Spoil volume is one of the larger cost lines on a driveway, so it is itemised separately on our quotes.
Do you install dropped kerbs?
Yes, where the local highway authority grants a vehicle crossing licence. The application has to be made and approved before the work starts; we can carry out the crossing once it is in place.
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