New tarmac driveways in Canterbury

What does a new tarmac driveway cost in Canterbury?

Local guide rates for Canterbury (the South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£66–£105 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,200–£3,450
Example: 50 m² drive	£3,300–£5,250
Example: 80 m² drive	£5,300–£8,350

As a 2026 guide in Canterbury, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £5,300–£8,350. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

What is included in a new tarmac driveway?

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

Dig to formation level, usually around 230–250 mm below finished height
Geotextile membrane where the ground is soft or clay
MOT Type 1 sub-base laid and compacted in layers, about 150 mm
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

Rules that apply in Canterbury

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.

How it is built

Covering Canterbury

What applies in Canterbury. We reach Canterbury on our Kent survey days; Maidstone is 24 miles away.

Postcodes: CT1, CT2, CT4, CT3
Area: Kent
Nearest towns: Whitstable (6 miles), Herne Bay (7 miles), Faversham (9 miles), Ashford (Kent) (13 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Whitstable, Herne Bay, Faversham, Ashford (Kent), Folkestone.

Your questions answered

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

As a 2026 guide in Canterbury, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £66–£105 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £5,300–£8,350. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

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

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).

Is the survey in Canterbury 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 Canterbury?

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

Other work in Canterbury

Ready for a price in Canterbury? Use the guide price tool or send the form, and we'll arrange a visit.