Front garden to tarmac driveway in Durham

Front garden driveway conversion prices in Durham

Guide prices below are for Durham, adjusted for the North East, where surfacing rates run about 7% below our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£56–£88 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,250–£1,950
Example: 30 m² drive	£1,850–£2,900
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,500–£4,000

As a 2026 guide in Durham, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £56–£88 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,250–£1,950. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Durham: the local details

Durham at a glance. Durham is 17 miles from Darlington, and we survey there as part of County Durham cover.

Postcodes: DH1, DH7, DH6
Area: County Durham
Nearest towns: Spennymoor (5 miles), Chester-le-Street (6 miles), Houghton-le-Spring (6 miles), Stanley (8 miles)
Pricing: North East, about 7% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Close to Durham: Spennymoor, Chester-le-Street, Houghton-le-Spring, Stanley, Washington.

Rules that apply in Durham

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. A vehicle crossing over the footway is a separate approval, from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

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
Lawn, hedge roots and topsoil removed
Kerbs or blocks as edge restraint
Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel
A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks

Your questions answered

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

As a 2026 guide in Durham, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £56–£88 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,250–£1,950. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

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

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

Do I need permission for a front garden driveway conversion in Durham?

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).

Which Durham postcodes do you cover?

We cover Durham including DH1, DH7, DH6, and nearby Spennymoor, Chester-le-Street, Houghton-le-Spring.

More we do in Durham

Ready for a price in Durham? Use the guide price tool or send the form, and we'll arrange a visit.