Front garden to tarmac driveway in Cheltenham

What does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Cheltenham?

For Cheltenham, 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 Cheltenham, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £62–£98 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,050–£3,250. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

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.

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
Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel
A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks

Where we work in and around Cheltenham

Survey cover and pricing for Cheltenham. As one of the larger towns in Gloucestershire, Cheltenham sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: GL50, GL51, GL53, GL52
Area: Gloucestershire
Nearest towns: Tewkesbury (7 miles), Gloucester (7 miles), Stroud (12 miles), Cirencester (13 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Close to Cheltenham: Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Stroud, Cirencester.

Planning and kerb rules for Cheltenham

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. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.

Your questions answered

Do you cover all of Cheltenham?

We cover Cheltenham including GL50, GL51, GL53, GL52, and nearby Tewkesbury, Gloucester, Stroud.

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

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 long does a front garden driveway conversion take in Cheltenham?

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

Can I get a free survey in Cheltenham?

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.

Other work in Cheltenham

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