New tarmac driveways in Ware

What does a new tarmac driveway cost in Ware?

Guide prices below are for Ware, adjusted for the East of England, where surfacing rates run about 5% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£63–£100 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,100–£3,300
Example: 50 m² drive	£3,150–£5,000
Example: 80 m² drive	£5,050–£8,000

As a 2026 guide in Ware, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £3,150–£5,000. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Do I need permission in Ware?

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. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.

Where we work in and around Ware

The key facts for Ware. Smaller towns such as Ware are surveyed alongside nearby jobs in Hertfordshire.

Postcodes: SG12
Area: Hertfordshire
Nearest towns: Hertford (2 miles), Hoddesdon (3 miles), Harlow (6 miles), Cheshunt (8 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Hertford, Hoddesdon, Harlow, Cheshunt, Welwyn Garden City.

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
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

Your questions answered

Are there planning or highway rules in Ware?

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 Ware?

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

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

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 Ware: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Ware, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £3,150–£5,000. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Also in Ware

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