Front garden to tarmac driveway in Luton

What does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Luton?

These Luton guide prices reflect rates in the East of England, 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 Luton, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,850–£4,500. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Luton: the local details

The key facts for Luton. We cover Luton as part of our regular Bedfordshire rounds.

Postcodes: LU1, LU2, LU3
Area: Bedfordshire
Nearest towns: Dunstable (5 miles), Harpenden (5 miles), Hitchin (7 miles), Hemel Hempstead (9 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Dunstable, Harpenden, Hitchin, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage.

Layer by layer

What is included in a front garden driveway conversion?

Turning a lawn or front garden into off-road parking: dig, base, tarmac, kerb crossing and planting.

Highway authority dropped kerb application guided or handled for you
Lawn, hedge roots and topsoil removed
Sub-base and two tarmac courses, or porous asphalt
Kerbs or blocks as edge restraint
Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel

Rules that apply in Luton

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. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Your questions answered

Can I get a free survey in Luton?

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.

Do you cover all of Luton?

We cover Luton including LU1, LU2, LU3, and nearby Dunstable, Harpenden, Hitchin.

How quickly can work start in Luton?

Usually 2–4 working days, after the kerb approval. We book Luton surveys alongside other jobs in Bedfordshire, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.

What approvals apply in Luton?

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).

Also in Luton

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