New tarmac driveways in Romford

What does a new tarmac driveway cost in Romford?

Guide prices below are for Romford, adjusted for London, where surfacing rates run about 20% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£72–£114 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,400–£3,750
Example: 50 m² drive	£3,600–£5,700
Example: 80 m² drive	£5,750–£9,100

As a 2026 guide in Romford, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £72–£114 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,400–£3,750. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Romford: the local details

What applies in Romford. As one of the larger towns in Greater London, Romford sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: RM1, RM7, RM2, RM5, RM3, RM4
Area: Greater London
Nearest towns: Hornchurch (2 miles), Dagenham (2 miles), Ilford (5 miles), Barking (5 miles)
Pricing: London, about 20% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Hornchurch, Dagenham, Ilford, Barking, Thamesmead.

What the price covers

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
Concrete-haunched kerbs or a block-paved border as edge restraint
Binder course (AC 20 dense), about 50–60 mm, laid hot and rolled

Rules that apply in Romford

In England, householder permitted development (Class F of the 2015 General Permitted Development Order) lets you lay a hard surface in front of a house without planning permission if it is porous, or if the rainwater is directed to a permeable area within the property. If the area is more than 5 m² and neither applies, you need permission. Standard dense tarmac is not porous, so a dense tarmac drive needs a lawn, border, channel to a soakaway or other permeable route for its water. A vehicle crossing over the footway is a separate approval, from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Romford: common questions

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

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.

What approvals apply in Romford?

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).

How quickly can work start in Romford?

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

Do you cover all of Romford?

We cover Romford including RM1, RM7, RM2, RM5, RM3, RM4, and nearby Hornchurch, Dagenham, Ilford.

Other work in Romford

Questions about new tarmac driveways in Romford? Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we'll talk it through.