New tarmac driveways in Chatham

What does a new tarmac driveway cost in Chatham?

Local guide rates for Chatham (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 Chatham, 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.

Do I need permission in Chatham?

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).

What we do on a new tarmac driveway

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

Break out and remove the old surface and spoil
Geotextile membrane where the ground is soft or clay
Concrete-haunched kerbs or a block-paved border as edge restraint
Surface course (AC 6 dense), about 20–30 mm, laid hot and rolled
Falls set so water runs to a channel, gully or soft landscaping

Where we work in and around Chatham

Chatham at a glance. As one of the larger towns in Kent, Chatham sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: ME4, ME5
Area: Kent
Nearest towns: Gillingham (1 mile), Rochester (1 mile), Strood (2 miles), Maidstone (8 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Gillingham, Rochester, Strood, Maidstone, Gravesend.

The build-up we price

Chatham: common questions

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

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).

Which Chatham postcodes do you cover?

We cover Chatham including ME4, ME5, and nearby Gillingham, Rochester, Strood.

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

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 Chatham?

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

Also in Chatham

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