New tarmac driveways in Cardiff

How much should I budget in Cardiff?

These Cardiff guide prices reflect rates in Wales, about 5% below our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£57–£90 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£1,900–£3,000
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,850–£4,500
Example: 80 m² drive	£4,550–£7,200

As a 2026 guide in Cardiff, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £57–£90 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £4,550–£7,200. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

The build-up we price

Rules that apply in Cardiff

In Wales, a new hard surface in front of a house is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a permeable area within the property; repairing or replacing up to 5 m² of existing hardstanding is allowed without meeting that condition. Separately, since January 2019, construction covering 100 m² or more that affects drainage generally needs approval from the council's SuDS Approving Body (SAB) before work starts, even where planning permission is not needed. Larger drives, shared surfaces and car parks often reach that threshold. A vehicle crossing over the footway is a separate approval, from the council as highway authority.

Where we work in and around Cardiff

The key facts for Cardiff. Cardiff is one of the bigger places we cover in South Glamorgan, so survey slots come round regularly.

Postcodes: CF10, CF11, CF24, CF23, CF3
Area: South Glamorgan
Nearest towns: Llandaff (2 miles), Penarth (3 miles), Dinas Powys (3 miles), Caerphilly (7 miles)
Pricing: Wales, about 5% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The council

Nearby, we work in Llandaff, Penarth, Dinas Powys, Caerphilly, Barry.

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.

Break out and remove the old surface and spoil
Geotextile membrane where the ground is soft or clay
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

Questions about new tarmac driveways in Cardiff

How much does a new tarmac driveway cost in Cardiff?

As a 2026 guide in Cardiff, new tarmac driveway work runs at about £57–£90 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £4,550–£7,200. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

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

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 long will the work take at my Cardiff property?

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

Are there planning or highway rules in Cardiff?

In Wales, new front hardstanding should be porous or drain to a permeable area within the property, and work covering 100 m² or more with drainage effects usually needs SAB approval first. Dropped kerbs are approved by the council as highway authority.

More we do in Cardiff

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