New tarmac driveways in Antrim

What does a new tarmac driveway cost in Antrim?

Local guide rates for Antrim (Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£53–£84 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£1,750–£2,750
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,650–£4,200
Example: 80 m² drive	£4,200–£6,700

As a 2026 guide in Antrim, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £53–£84 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,650–£4,200. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

The build-up we price

Planning and kerb rules for Antrim

In Northern Ireland, the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 allows a hard surface between the front of a house and a road without permission if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, once it exceeds 5 m². Listed buildings and some access changes need permission. Any new or altered vehicle access onto a public road needs approval from DfI Roads, not the council.

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.

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
MOT Type 1 sub-base laid and compacted in layers, about 150 mm
Falls set so water runs to a channel, gully or soft landscaping

Where we work in and around Antrim

Antrim at a glance. We cover Antrim by grouping surveys with nearby County Antrim jobs; Belfast is 14 miles away.

Postcodes: BT41
Area: County Antrim
Nearest towns: Ballyclare (9 miles), Ballymena (10 miles), Newtownabbey (13 miles), Belfast (14 miles)
Pricing: Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: DfI Roads

We also cover nearby Ballyclare, Ballymena, Newtownabbey, Belfast, Lisburn.

Questions about new tarmac driveways in Antrim

Is the survey in Antrim free?

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 quickly can work start in Antrim?

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

Do you cover all of Antrim?

We cover Antrim including BT41, and nearby Ballyclare, Ballymena, Newtownabbey.

What approvals apply in Antrim?

In Northern Ireland, more than 5 m² of hard surface in front of a house should be porous or drain to a porous area within the property; DfI Roads approves dropped kerbs. Dropped kerbs are approved by DfI Roads.

Other work in Antrim

Send us a postcode, a rough size and a photo or two, and we'll come back with survey dates for Antrim.