Front garden to tarmac driveway in Chester

Front garden driveway conversion prices in Chester

For Chester, we apply the North West rate, about 3% below our UK midpoint. Your survey turns these ranges into a fixed price.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£58–£92 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,300–£2,050
Example: 30 m² drive	£1,900–£3,050
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,600–£4,150

As a 2026 guide in Chester, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £58–£92 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,300–£2,050. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Chester: the local details

Chester at a glance. We cover Chester as part of our regular Cheshire rounds.

Postcodes: CH1, CH70, CH2, CH4, CH3
Area: Cheshire
Nearest towns: Ellesmere Port (6 miles), Neston (9 miles), Garston (10 miles), Speke (11 miles)
Pricing: North West, about 3% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Ellesmere Port, Neston, Garston, Speke, Halewood.

Layer by layer

Rules that apply in Chester

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.

What the price covers

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

Questions about front garden driveway conversions in Chester

Is the survey in Chester free?

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.

What approvals apply in Chester?

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).

How long does a front garden driveway conversion take in Chester?

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

What is the price of a front garden driveway conversion in Chester?

As a 2026 guide in Chester, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £58–£92 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,300–£2,050. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Also in Chester

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