Front garden to tarmac driveway in Penzance

What does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Penzance?

Guide prices below are for Penzance, adjusted for the South West, where surfacing rates run about 3% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£62–£98 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,350–£2,150
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,050–£3,250
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,800–£4,400

As a 2026 guide in Penzance, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £62–£98 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,050–£3,250. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Do I need permission in Penzance?

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).

Layer by layer

Covering Penzance

Penzance at a glance. We cover Penzance by grouping surveys with nearby Cornwall jobs; Redruth is 16 miles away.

Postcodes: TR18, TR20, TR17, TR19
Area: Cornwall
Nearest towns: Camborne (12 miles), Redruth (16 miles), Falmouth (21 miles), Truro (24 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Camborne, Redruth, Falmouth, Truro.

What we do on a front garden driveway conversion

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
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

Your questions answered

Are there planning or highway rules in Penzance?

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 will the work take at my Penzance property?

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

Can I get a free survey in Penzance?

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.

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

As a 2026 guide in Penzance, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £62–£98 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,050–£3,250. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

More we do in Penzance

Questions about front garden driveway conversions in Penzance? Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we'll talk it through.