New tarmac driveways in Thetford

What does a new tarmac driveway cost in Thetford?

These Thetford guide prices reflect rates in the East of England, 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 Thetford, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,100–£3,300. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Covering Thetford

Thetford at a glance. We cover Thetford by grouping surveys with nearby Norfolk jobs; Norwich is 27 miles away.

Postcodes: IP24
Area: Norfolk
Nearest towns: Bury St Edmunds (12 miles), East Dereham (20 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Close to Thetford: Bury St Edmunds, East Dereham.

Do I need permission in Thetford?

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.

What we do on 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.

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
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

Your questions answered

Which Thetford postcodes do you cover?

We cover Thetford including IP24, and nearby Bury St Edmunds, East Dereham.

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

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 long does a new tarmac driveway take in Thetford?

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

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

As a 2026 guide in Thetford, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £63–£100 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,100–£3,300. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

More we do in Thetford

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