New tarmac driveways in Chester

New tarmac driveway prices in Chester

Local guide rates for Chester (the North West, about 3% below our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£58–£92 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£1,900–£3,050
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,900–£4,600
Example: 80 m² drive	£4,650–£7,350

As a 2026 guide in Chester, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £58–£92 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £4,650–£7,350. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Planning and kerb rules for Chester

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

Layer by layer

What the price covers

Full dig-out, compacted stone sub-base, binder course and a fine surface course, edged and drained.

Dig to formation level, usually around 230–250 mm below finished height
MOT Type 1 sub-base laid and compacted in layers, about 150 mm
Concrete-haunched kerbs or a block-paved border as edge restraint
Binder course (AC 20 dense), about 50–60 mm, laid hot and rolled
Surface course (AC 6 dense), about 20–30 mm, laid hot and rolled

Chester: the local details

The key facts for Chester. As one of the larger towns in Cheshire, Chester sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: CH1, CH70, CH2, CH4, CH3
Area: Cheshire
Nearest towns: Ellesmere Port (6 miles), Neston (9 miles), Garston (10 miles), Speke (11 miles)
Pricing: North West, about 3% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Ellesmere Port, Neston, Garston, Speke, Halewood.

Your questions answered

How long will the work take at my Chester property?

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

How much does a new tarmac driveway cost in Chester?

As a 2026 guide in Chester, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £58–£92 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £4,650–£7,350. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Can I get a free survey in Chester?

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.

Which Chester postcodes do you cover?

We cover Chester including CH1, CH70, CH2, CH4, CH3, and nearby Ellesmere Port, Neston, Garston.

Other work in Chester

Questions about new tarmac driveways in Chester? Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we'll talk it through.