Front garden to tarmac driveway in Chelmsford

How much should I budget in Chelmsford?

For Chelmsford, we apply the East of England rate, about 5% 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	£63–£100 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,400–£2,200
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,100–£3,300
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,850–£4,500

As a 2026 guide in Chelmsford, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,850–£4,500. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

The build-up we price

Covering Chelmsford

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

Postcodes: CM1, CM2
Area: Essex
Nearest towns: Billericay (8 miles), Witham (9 miles), Maldon (9 miles), Wickford (9 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Billericay, Witham, Maldon, Wickford, Braintree.

What is included in a front garden driveway conversion?

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
Highway authority dropped kerb application guided or handled for you
Lawn, hedge roots and topsoil removed
Kerbs or blocks as edge restraint
A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks

Rules that apply in Chelmsford

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).

Your questions answered

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

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).

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

As a 2026 guide in Chelmsford, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,850–£4,500. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

How long will the work take at my Chelmsford property?

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

Which Chelmsford postcodes do you cover?

We cover Chelmsford including CM1, CM2, and nearby Billericay, Witham, Maldon.

Other work in Chelmsford

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