New tarmac driveways in Reading

How much should I budget in Reading?

Guide prices below are for Reading, 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: 30 m² drive	£2,200–£3,450
Example: 50 m² drive	£3,300–£5,250
Example: 80 m² drive	£5,300–£8,350

As a 2026 guide in Reading, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £5,300–£8,350. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Reading: the local details

Reading at a glance. As one of the larger towns in Berkshire, Reading sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: RG1, RG4, RG30, RG31
Area: Berkshire
Nearest towns: Earley (3 miles), Wokingham (7 miles), Crowthorne (10 miles), Yateley (10 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Earley, Wokingham, Crowthorne, Yateley, Bracknell.

Planning and kerb rules for Reading

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. A vehicle crossing over the footway is a separate approval, from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

What the price covers

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.

Dig to formation level, usually around 230–250 mm below finished height
Geotextile membrane where the ground is soft or clay
MOT Type 1 sub-base laid and compacted in layers, about 150 mm
Concrete-haunched kerbs or a block-paved border as edge restraint
Surface course (AC 6 dense), about 20–30 mm, laid hot and rolled

Questions about new tarmac driveways in Reading

Do I need permission for a new tarmac driveway in Reading?

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 Reading?

We cover Reading including RG1, RG4, RG30, RG31, and nearby Earley, Wokingham, Crowthorne.

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

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 long will the work take at my Reading property?

Usually 2–4 working days for a typical drive, longer with drainage or a dropped kerb. We book Reading surveys alongside other jobs in Berkshire, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.