Front garden to tarmac driveway in Chatham

Front garden driveway conversion prices in Chatham

Guide prices below are for Chatham, adjusted for the South East, where surfacing rates run about 10% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£66–£105 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,450–£2,300
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,200–£3,450
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,950–£4,700

As a 2026 guide in Chatham, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,450–£2,300. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Rules that apply in Chatham

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.

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
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

Covering Chatham

The key facts for Chatham. Chatham is one of the bigger places we cover in Kent, so survey slots come round regularly.

Postcodes: ME4, ME5
Area: Kent
Nearest towns: Gillingham (1 mile), Rochester (1 mile), Strood (2 miles), Maidstone (8 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Gillingham, Rochester, Strood, Maidstone, Gravesend.

Chatham: common questions

Do you cover all of Chatham?

We cover Chatham including ME4, ME5, and nearby Gillingham, Rochester, Strood.

Can I get a free survey in Chatham?

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.

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

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).

Front garden driveway conversion cost in Chatham: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Chatham, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² drive is roughly £1,450–£2,300. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

More we do in Chatham

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