Front garden to tarmac driveway in Purley

How much should I budget in Purley?

Local guide rates for Purley (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 Purley, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £72–£114 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £3,250–£5,150. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Covering Purley

Purley at a glance. As one of the larger towns in Greater London, Purley sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: CR8
Area: Greater London
Nearest towns: Coulsdon (2 miles), South Croydon (2 miles), Carshalton (3 miles), Croydon (3 miles)
Pricing: London, about 20% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Close to Purley: Coulsdon, South Croydon, Carshalton, Croydon, Sutton.

The build-up we price

What is included in a front garden driveway conversion?

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

Check the space: length, width and gate posts for a car
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

Do I need permission in Purley?

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.

Purley: common questions

Can I get a free survey in Purley?

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 Purley?

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

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

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).

Do you cover all of Purley?

We cover Purley including CR8, and nearby Coulsdon, South Croydon, Carshalton.

Also in Purley

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