Front garden to tarmac driveway in Bournemouth

How much should I budget in Bournemouth?

For Bournemouth, we apply the South West rate, about 3% above 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	£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 Bournemouth, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £62–£98 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,800–£4,400. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Covering Bournemouth

Survey cover and pricing for Bournemouth. We cover Bournemouth as part of our regular Dorset rounds.

Postcodes: BH2, BH4, BH1, BH3, BH8, BH13, BH9, BH5
Area: Dorset
Nearest towns: Christchurch (4 miles), Poole (5 miles), Ferndown (6 miles), Wimborne Minster (6 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Christchurch, Poole, Ferndown, Wimborne Minster, New Milton.

The build-up we price

Planning and kerb rules for Bournemouth

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. 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
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 Bournemouth

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

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

Are there planning or highway rules in Bournemouth?

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).

Do you cover all of Bournemouth?

We cover Bournemouth including BH2, BH4, BH1, BH3, BH8, BH13, and nearby Christchurch, Poole, Ferndown.

Is the survey in Bournemouth 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 Bournemouth

Send us a postcode, a rough size and a photo or two, and we'll come back with survey dates for Bournemouth.