New tarmac driveways in Carrickfergus

What does a new tarmac driveway cost in Carrickfergus?

Local guide rates for Carrickfergus (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 Carrickfergus, 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.

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
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

Rules that apply in Carrickfergus

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. If the job needs a dropped kerb, DfI Roads approves it before any work on the footway.

Carrickfergus: the local details

What applies in Carrickfergus. We cover Carrickfergus by grouping surveys with nearby County Antrim jobs; Belfast is 10 miles away.

Postcodes: BT38
Area: County Antrim
Nearest towns: Holywood (5 miles), Newtownabbey (6 miles), Bangor (Down) (7 miles), Ballyclare (8 miles)
Pricing: Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: DfI Roads

Nearby, we work in Holywood, Newtownabbey, Bangor (Down), Ballyclare, Dundonald.

Carrickfergus: common questions

Which Carrickfergus postcodes do you cover?

We cover Carrickfergus including BT38, and nearby Holywood, Newtownabbey, Bangor (Down).

Can I get a free survey in Carrickfergus?

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.

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

As a 2026 guide in Carrickfergus, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £53–£84 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,650–£4,200. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

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

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 Carrickfergus

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