Front garden to tarmac driveway in Bedford

Front garden driveway conversion prices in Bedford

Guide prices below are for Bedford, adjusted for the East of England, where surfacing rates run about 5% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£63–£100 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,400–£2,200
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,100–£3,300
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,850–£4,500

As a 2026 guide in Bedford, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,100–£3,300. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Planning and kerb rules for Bedford

In England, a new hard surface over 5 m² in front of a house needs planning permission unless it is porous or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Bedford: the local details

Survey cover and pricing for Bedford. We cover Bedford as part of our regular Bedfordshire rounds.

Postcodes: MK40, MK41, MK44
Area: Bedfordshire
Nearest towns: Kempston (2 miles), Ampthill (8 miles), Biggleswade (9 miles), St Neots (10 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Kempston, Ampthill, Biggleswade, St Neots, Newport Pagnell.

What the price covers

A front garden conversion turns lawn or planting into a parking space: the ground is excavated, a stone sub-base laid, tarmac surfaced on top, and a lowered kerb arranged so a car can cross the pavement legally.

Check the space: length, width and gate posts for a car
Highway authority dropped kerb application guided or handled for you
Kerbs or blocks as edge restraint
Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel
A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks

Your questions answered

How much does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Bedford?

As a 2026 guide in Bedford, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,100–£3,300. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Do I need permission for a front garden driveway conversion in Bedford?

In England, a new hard surface over 5 m² in front of a house needs planning permission unless it is porous or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property. Dropped kerbs are approved by the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Can I get a free survey in Bedford?

Yes for new surfacing such as drives, paths, private roads and car parks. Small repairs are often priced from photos; if a visit is needed for a repair-only job, we tell you any charge first.

Which Bedford postcodes do you cover?

We cover Bedford including MK40, MK41, MK44, and nearby Kempston, Ampthill, Biggleswade.

More we do in Bedford

Tell us what you have in mind for Bedford and we'll book a survey and put the specification in writing.