Tarmac surfacing in Dorset
Tarmac driveways and light commercial surfacing in Dorset: guide prices for the South West, the towns we cover and the local rules.
Services and guide prices in Dorset
Rates in Dorset follow the South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint.
| Service | Guide price |
|---|---|
| New tarmac driveways | £62–£98 per m² inc VAT |
| Car park surfacing | £52–£88 per m² ex VAT |
| Permeable tarmac driveways | £82–£129 per m² inc VAT |
| Front garden to tarmac driveway | £62–£98 per m² inc VAT |
| Private and access road surfacing | £46–£82 per m² ex VAT |
| Tar and chip driveways | £46–£77 per m² inc VAT |
| Car park and yard repairs | £150–£410 each ex VAT |
| Tarmac driveway repairs | £150–£410 each inc VAT |
| Edging and kerbs for tarmac | £26–£57 per metre inc VAT |
| Car park resurfacing | £21–£36 per m² ex VAT |
Also available: drainage for tarmac drives, farm tracks and rural access, tarmac paths and footpaths, line marking and speed humps, red tarmac driveways, yards and forecourts, tarmac driveway resurfacing, dropped kerbs and vehicle crossings.
What common jobs come to in Dorset:
- 62 m² new tarmac drive: about £3,850–£6,050.
- Private road resurface (ex VAT), 150 m²: around £3,750–£6,450.
- Tarmac overlay, 32 m²: around £910–£1,650.
Towns in Dorset
Planning and dropped kerbs in Dorset
In England, householder permitted development (Class F of the 2015 General Permitted Development Order) lets you lay a hard surface in front of a house without planning permission if it is porous, or if the rainwater is directed to a permeable area within the property. If the area is more than 5 m² and neither applies, you need permission. Standard dense tarmac is not porous, so a dense tarmac drive needs a lawn, border, channel to a soakaway or other permeable route for its water.
Dorset: questions
How long does a tarmac drive take in Dorset?
Usually 2–4 working days on site once the survey and specification are agreed.
How much is a new tarmac drive in Dorset?
As a 2026 guide, about £62–£98 per m² inc VAT, before edging and drainage.
Who approves dropped kerbs in Dorset?
The highway authority (the county or unitary council).
Which postcode areas do you cover in Dorset?
BH, DT.
Get a written tarmac quote
Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED