Front garden to tarmac driveway in Portrush
Homeowners in Portrush ask us about front garden driveway conversions for the same reason: a surface that stays flat, drains properly and still looks tidy in ten years. That comes down to the build underneath.
How much should I budget in Portrush?
Local guide rates for Portrush (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 Portrush, 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.
Planning and kerb rules for Portrush
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.
Portrush: the local details
What applies in Portrush. Portrush is covered on our County Londonderry rounds, 29 miles from Derry.
- Postcodes
- BT56, BT57
- Area
- County Londonderry
- Nearest towns
- Portstewart (3 miles), Coleraine (4 miles), Ballymoney (10 miles), Limavady (16 miles)
- Pricing
- Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
- Kerb approvals
- DfI Roads
The same service is available in Portstewart, Coleraine, Ballymoney, Limavady.
What the price covers
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
The build-up we price
Questions about front garden driveway conversions in Portrush
What approvals apply in Portrush?
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.
Is the survey in Portrush 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.
How long does a front garden driveway conversion take in Portrush?
Usually 2–4 working days, after the kerb approval. We book Portrush surveys alongside other jobs in County Londonderry, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.
Which Portrush postcodes do you cover?
We cover Portrush including BT56, BT57, and nearby Portstewart, Coleraine, Ballymoney.
Other work in Portrush
- Car park resurfacing
- Red tarmac driveways
- Car park surfacing
- Permeable tarmac driveways
- Tarmac driveway resurfacing
- Tarmac paths and footpaths
- Everything in Portrush
Send us a postcode, a rough size and a photo or two, and we'll come back with survey dates for Portrush.
Front garden to tarmac driveway in Portrush: get a written quote
Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED