Front garden to tarmac driveway in Cardiff

What does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Cardiff?

Guide prices below are for Cardiff, adjusted for Wales, where surfacing rates run about 5% below our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£57–£90 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive	£1,250–£2,000
Example: 30 m² drive	£1,900–£3,000
Example: 45 m² drive	£2,550–£4,050

As a 2026 guide in Cardiff, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £57–£90 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,550–£4,050. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Do I need permission in Cardiff?

In Wales, new front hardstanding should be porous or drain to a permeable area within the property, and work covering 100 m² or more with drainage effects usually needs SAB approval first. A vehicle crossing over the footway is a separate approval, from the council as highway authority.

Layer by layer

Covering Cardiff

What applies in Cardiff. We cover Cardiff as part of our regular South Glamorgan rounds.

Postcodes: CF10, CF11, CF24, CF23, CF3
Area: South Glamorgan
Nearest towns: Llandaff (2 miles), Penarth (3 miles), Dinas Powys (3 miles), Caerphilly (7 miles)
Pricing: Wales, about 5% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The council

Close to Cardiff: Llandaff, Penarth, Dinas Powys, Caerphilly, Barry.

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.

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
Sub-base and two tarmac courses, or porous asphalt
Kerbs or blocks as edge restraint

Cardiff: common questions

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

In Wales, new front hardstanding should be porous or drain to a permeable area within the property, and work covering 100 m² or more with drainage effects usually needs SAB approval first. Dropped kerbs are approved by the council as highway authority.

How long will the work take at my Cardiff property?

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

Do you work in my part of Cardiff?

We cover Cardiff including CF10, CF11, CF24, CF23, CF3, and nearby Llandaff, Penarth, Dinas Powys.

Will someone visit before I get a fixed price in Cardiff?

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.

More we do in Cardiff

Tell us what you have in mind for Cardiff and we'll book a survey and put the specification in writing.