Front garden to tarmac driveway in Carrickfergus

What does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Carrickfergus?

Local guide rates for Carrickfergus (Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£53–£84 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,150–£1,850
Example: 30 m² drive	£1,750–£2,750
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,400–£3,750

As a 2026 guide in Carrickfergus, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £53–£84 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,150–£1,850. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Where we work in and around Carrickfergus

What applies in Carrickfergus. Smaller towns such as Carrickfergus are surveyed alongside nearby jobs in County Antrim.

Postcodes: BT38
Area: County Antrim
Nearest towns: Holywood (5 miles), Newtownabbey (6 miles), Bangor (Down) (7 miles), Ballyclare (8 miles)
Pricing: Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: DfI Roads

Nearby, we work in Holywood, Newtownabbey, Bangor (Down), Ballyclare, Dundonald.

Rules that apply in Carrickfergus

In Northern Ireland, the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 allows a hard surface between the front of a house and a road without permission if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, once it exceeds 5 m². Listed buildings and some access changes need permission. Any new or altered vehicle access onto a public road needs approval from DfI Roads, not the council.

What we do on 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
Kerbs or blocks as edge restraint
Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel
A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks

Layer by layer

Questions about front garden driveway conversions in Carrickfergus

Are there planning or highway rules in Carrickfergus?

In Northern Ireland, more than 5 m² of hard surface in front of a house should be porous or drain to a porous area within the property; DfI Roads approves dropped kerbs. Dropped kerbs are approved by DfI Roads.

How long will the work take at my Carrickfergus property?

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

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

As a 2026 guide in Carrickfergus, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £53–£84 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,150–£1,850. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Is the survey in Carrickfergus 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.

More we do in Carrickfergus

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