New tarmac driveways in Belfast

How much should I budget in Belfast?

Local guide rates for Belfast (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 Belfast, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £53–£84 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £1,750–£2,750. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

What we do on a new tarmac driveway

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

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
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

Do I need permission in Belfast?

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. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from DfI Roads.

Belfast: the local details

What applies in Belfast. We cover Belfast as part of our regular County Antrim rounds.

Postcodes: BT1, BT2, BT7, BT12, BT13, BT3, BT15, BT9
Area: County Antrim
Nearest towns: Castlereagh (2 miles), Newtownabbey (4 miles), Holywood (5 miles), Dundonald (5 miles)
Pricing: Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: DfI Roads

Nearby, we work in Castlereagh, Newtownabbey, Holywood, Dundonald, Lisburn.

Belfast: common questions

Do you work in my part of Belfast?

We cover Belfast including BT1, BT2, BT7, BT12, BT13, BT3, and nearby Castlereagh, Newtownabbey, Holywood.

New tarmac driveway cost in Belfast: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Belfast, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £53–£84 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £1,750–£2,750. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

What approvals apply in Belfast?

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.

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

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.

Also in Belfast

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