Front garden to tarmac driveway in Croydon

How much should I budget in Croydon?

Local guide rates for Croydon (London, about 20% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£72–£114 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,600–£2,500
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,400–£3,750
Example: 45 m² drive	£3,250–£5,150

As a 2026 guide in Croydon, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £72–£114 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,600–£2,500. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

What we do on a front garden driveway conversion

Turning a lawn or front garden into off-road parking: dig, base, tarmac, kerb crossing and planting.

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
Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel

Planning and kerb rules for Croydon

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

Where we work in and around Croydon

Survey cover and pricing for Croydon. We cover Croydon as part of our regular Greater London rounds.

Postcodes: CR9, CR7, SE25
Area: Greater London
Nearest towns: South Croydon (1 mile), Carshalton (3 miles), Mitcham (3 miles), Purley (3 miles)
Pricing: London, about 20% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby South Croydon, Carshalton, Mitcham, Purley, Streatham.

Questions about front garden driveway conversions in Croydon

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

As a 2026 guide in Croydon, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £72–£114 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,600–£2,500. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Do you cover all of Croydon?

We cover Croydon including CR9, CR7, SE25, and nearby South Croydon, Carshalton, Mitcham.

Can I get a free survey in Croydon?

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 Croydon?

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

Also in Croydon

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