Driveways and paths

Front garden to tarmac driveway in Tyne and Wear

Across in Tyne and Wear, we cover 17 towns for front garden driveway conversions, including Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland and South Shields.

TYNE AND WEAR GUIDE£56–£88 per m² inc VAT
Front garden converted to a tarmac parking space with a lowered kerb, typical of front garden driveway conversion work

How much does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Tyne and Wear?

Rates in Tyne and Wear follow the North East, about 7% below our UK midpoint.

ItemGuide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base£56–£88 per m²
Example: 20 m² drive£1,250–£1,950
Example: 30 m² drive£1,850–£2,900
Example: 45 m² drive£2,500–£4,000

Towns we cover in Tyne and Wear

Postcode areas: NE, SR, TF, WV.

What is included?

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.

  • Check the space: length, width and gate posts for a car
  • Highway authority dropped kerb application guided or handled for you
  • Sub-base and two tarmac courses, or porous asphalt
  • Kerbs or blocks as edge restraint
  • Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel
  • A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks

Rules in Tyne and Wear

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.

How it is built

Surface course20–30 mm AC 6 or porous asphaltBinder course50–60 mmSub-baseabout 150 mm MOT Type 1Drainageborder, soakaway or channelINDICATIVE CROSS-SECTION · NOT TO SCALE

Front garden to tarmac driveway in Tyne and Wear: questions

How much does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Tyne and Wear?

As a 2026 guide, about £56–£88 per m² inc VAT in Tyne and Wear. The survey confirms a fixed price.

Which towns in Tyne and Wear do you cover?

Newcastle upon Tyne, Sunderland, South Shields, Gateshead, Washington, Tynemouth, Wallsend, Newburn and more.

How long does a front garden driveway conversion take?

Usually 2–4 working days, after the kerb approval.

Can I keep some of my garden?

Yes, and it helps. A planted strip or border can take the runoff from the tarmac and softens the look of the street.

Other services in Tyne and Wear

Free survey for new surfacing

Get a written tarmac quote

Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.

  • Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
  • Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
  • Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
  • Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED
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