New tarmac driveways in Kempston

New tarmac driveway prices in Kempston

These Kempston guide prices reflect rates in the East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£63–£100 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,100–£3,300
Example: 50 m² drive	£3,150–£5,000
Example: 80 m² drive	£5,050–£8,000

As a 2026 guide in Kempston, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £5,050–£8,000. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Rules that apply in Kempston

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.

What is included in a new tarmac driveway?

A new tarmac driveway is built from the ground up: the old surface and soil are dug out, a compacted stone sub-base is laid, then a hot binder course and a finer surface course are spread and rolled, and the edges are held by kerbs or blocks.

Break out and remove the old surface and spoil
Dig to formation level, usually around 230–250 mm below finished height
Geotextile membrane where the ground is soft or clay
Concrete-haunched kerbs or a block-paved border as edge restraint
Surface course (AC 6 dense), about 20–30 mm, laid hot and rolled

Layer by layer

Where we work in and around Kempston

Kempston at a glance. Smaller towns such as Kempston are surveyed alongside nearby jobs in Bedfordshire.

Postcodes: MK42, MK43
Area: Bedfordshire
Nearest towns: Bedford (2 miles), Ampthill (6 miles), Newport Pagnell (10 miles), Biggleswade (10 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Bedford, Ampthill, Newport Pagnell, Biggleswade, Milton Keynes.

Kempston: common questions

Can I get a free survey in Kempston?

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.

New tarmac driveway cost in Kempston: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Kempston, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £5,050–£8,000. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

What approvals apply in Kempston?

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 work in my part of Kempston?

We cover Kempston including MK42, MK43, and nearby Bedford, Ampthill, Newport Pagnell.

Other work in Kempston

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