New tarmac driveways in Harrogate

What does a new tarmac driveway cost in Harrogate?

These Harrogate guide prices reflect rates in Yorkshire and the Humber, about 4% below our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£58–£91 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£1,900–£3,000
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,900–£4,550
Example: 80 m² drive	£4,600–£7,300

As a 2026 guide in Harrogate, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £58–£91 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £4,600–£7,300. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

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
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

Planning and kerb rules for Harrogate

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. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Harrogate: the local details

Harrogate at a glance. As one of the larger towns in North Yorkshire, Harrogate sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: HG2, HG1, HG5, HG3
Area: North Yorkshire
Nearest towns: Ripon (10 miles), Yeadon (11 miles), Guiseley (11 miles), Horsforth (11 miles)
Pricing: Yorkshire and the Humber, about 4% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Ripon, Yeadon, Guiseley, Horsforth, York.

Your questions answered

What approvals apply in Harrogate?

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).

What is the price of a new tarmac driveway in Harrogate?

As a 2026 guide in Harrogate, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £58–£91 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £4,600–£7,300. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

How long does a new tarmac driveway take in Harrogate?

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

Which Harrogate postcodes do you cover?

We cover Harrogate including HG2, HG1, HG5, HG3, and nearby Ripon, Yeadon, Guiseley.

Also in Harrogate

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