Front garden to tarmac driveway in Hove

How much should I budget in Hove?

Local guide rates for Hove (the South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£66–£105 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,450–£2,300
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,200–£3,450
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,950–£4,700

As a 2026 guide in Hove, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,950–£4,700. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

The build-up we price

Do I need permission in Hove?

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

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.

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
A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks

Covering Hove

Survey cover and pricing for Hove. Hove is one of the bigger places we cover in East Sussex, so survey slots come round regularly.

Postcodes: BN52, BN3
Area: East Sussex
Nearest towns: Brighton (1 mile), Portslade (2 miles), Shoreham-by-Sea (5 miles), Rottingdean (5 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Brighton, Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea, Rottingdean, Lancing.

Hove: common questions

Do you cover all of Hove?

We cover Hove including BN52, BN3, and nearby Brighton, Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea.

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

As a 2026 guide in Hove, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,950–£4,700. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Is the survey in Hove 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 quickly can work start in Hove?

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

More we do in Hove

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