New tarmac driveways in Penzance

How much should I budget in Penzance?

Guide prices below are for Penzance, adjusted for the South West, where surfacing rates run about 3% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£62–£98 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,050–£3,250
Example: 50 m² drive	£3,100–£4,900
Example: 80 m² drive	£4,950–£7,850

As a 2026 guide in Penzance, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £62–£98 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,050–£3,250. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Planning and kerb rules for Penzance

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. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.

Penzance: the local details

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

Postcodes: TR18, TR20, TR17, TR19
Area: Cornwall
Nearest towns: Camborne (12 miles), Redruth (16 miles), Falmouth (21 miles), Truro (24 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Camborne, Redruth, Falmouth, Truro.

What we do on 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.

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
Binder course (AC 20 dense), about 50–60 mm, laid hot and rolled
Falls set so water runs to a channel, gully or soft landscaping

Penzance: common questions

Do you cover all of Penzance?

We cover Penzance including TR18, TR20, TR17, TR19, and nearby Camborne, Redruth, Falmouth.

How much does a new tarmac driveway cost in Penzance?

As a 2026 guide in Penzance, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £62–£98 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,050–£3,250. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

How long does a new tarmac driveway take in Penzance?

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

What approvals apply in Penzance?

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).

Also in Penzance

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