Front garden to tarmac driveway in Chesham

What does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Chesham?

Local guide rates for Chesham (the South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£66–£105 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,450–£2,300
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,200–£3,450
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,950–£4,700

As a 2026 guide in Chesham, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,950–£4,700. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

The build-up we price

Rules that apply in Chesham

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. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.

Where we work in and around Chesham

The key facts for Chesham. Chesham is covered on our Buckinghamshire rounds, 25 miles from Milton Keynes.

Postcodes: HP5
Area: Buckinghamshire
Nearest towns: Amersham (2 miles), Berkhamsted (4 miles), Chalfont St Peter (7 miles), Rickmansworth (7 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Amersham, Berkhamsted, Chalfont St Peter, Rickmansworth, Hemel Hempstead.

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.

Check the space: length, width and gate posts for a car
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

Your questions answered

Which Chesham postcodes do you cover?

We cover Chesham including HP5, and nearby Amersham, Berkhamsted, Chalfont St Peter.

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

As a 2026 guide in Chesham, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,950–£4,700. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Will someone visit before I get a fixed price in Chesham?

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 I need permission for a front garden driveway conversion in Chesham?

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 Chesham

Send us a postcode, a rough size and a photo or two, and we'll come back with survey dates for Chesham.