New tarmac driveways in Newtownabbey

What does a new tarmac driveway cost in Newtownabbey?

Local guide rates for Newtownabbey (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 Newtownabbey, 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 is included in 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
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

Where we work in and around Newtownabbey

What applies in Newtownabbey. Newtownabbey is 4 miles from Belfast, and we survey there as part of County Antrim cover.

Postcodes: BT37, BT36
Area: County Antrim
Nearest towns: Holywood (4 miles), Belfast (4 miles), Carrickfergus (6 miles), Castlereagh (6 miles)
Pricing: Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: DfI Roads

We also cover nearby Holywood, Belfast, Carrickfergus, Castlereagh, Dundonald.

Rules that apply in Newtownabbey

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.

Newtownabbey: common questions

Is the survey in Newtownabbey 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 Newtownabbey?

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

Are there planning or highway rules in Newtownabbey?

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.

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

As a 2026 guide in Newtownabbey, 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.

More we do in Newtownabbey

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