Front garden to tarmac driveway in Islington

Front garden driveway conversion prices in Islington

Guide prices below are for Islington, adjusted for London, where surfacing rates run 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 Islington, 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 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
Kerbs or blocks as edge restraint
Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel
A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks

Islington: the local details

What applies in Islington. Islington is one of the bigger places we cover in Greater London, so survey slots come round regularly.

Postcodes: N1P, N1, EC1V, EC1R, WC1X, EC1P, EC4P, EC2P
Area: Greater London
Nearest towns: Highbury (1 mile), Holloway (1 mile), Camden Town (2 miles), Westminster (3 miles)
Pricing: London, about 20% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Highbury, Holloway, Camden Town, Westminster, Bow.

Do I need permission in Islington?

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. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Your questions answered

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

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

What approvals apply in Islington?

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).

Which Islington postcodes do you cover?

We cover Islington including N1P, N1, EC1V, EC1R, WC1X, EC1P, and nearby Highbury, Holloway, Camden Town.

Is the survey in Islington 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.

Other work in Islington

Questions about front garden driveway conversions in Islington? Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we'll talk it through.