Driveways and paths · Berkshire

New tarmac driveways in Thatcham

Homeowners in Thatcham ask us about new tarmac driveways for the same reason: a surface that stays flat, drains properly and still looks tidy in ten years. That comes down to the build underneath.

THATCHAM GUIDE£66–£105 per m² inc VAT
Wide new tarmac driveway with granite sett border leading to a garage, typical of new tarmac driveway work

New tarmac driveway prices in Thatcham

For Thatcham, we apply the South East rate, about 10% above our UK midpoint. Your survey turns these ranges into a fixed price.

ItemGuide 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 Thatcham, 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.

Covering Thatcham

Survey cover and pricing for Thatcham. Smaller towns such as Thatcham are surveyed alongside nearby jobs in Berkshire.

Postcodes
RG19, RG18
Area
Berkshire
Nearest towns
Newbury (3 miles), Tadley (7 miles), Reading (13 miles), Earley (15 miles)
Pricing
South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals
The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Newbury, Tadley, Reading, Earley, Wokingham.

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
  • 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
  • Falls set so water runs to a channel, gully or soft landscaping

How it is built

Surface course20–30 mm AC 6 denseBinder course50–60 mm AC 20 denseSub-baseabout 150 mm MOT Type 1Edgeskerbs or blocks on a concrete haunchINDICATIVE CROSS-SECTION · NOT TO SCALE

Do I need permission in Thatcham?

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. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Thatcham: common questions

How long will the work take at my Thatcham property?

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

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

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).

What is the price of a new tarmac driveway in Thatcham?

As a 2026 guide in Thatcham, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £5,300–£8,350. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Do you work in my part of Thatcham?

We cover Thatcham including RG19, RG18, and nearby Newbury, Tadley, Reading.

Other work in Thatcham

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

Free survey for new surfacing

New tarmac driveways in Thatcham: get a written 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
Call nowGet a price