Permeable Tarmac Driveways

A permeable tarmac drive uses porous asphalt, a mix with fewer fine particles so water passes through the gaps, laid on an open-graded stone base that stores the rain and lets it soak into the ground.

What is included in a permeable tarmac driveway?

Ground check: how fast does the soil drain?
Dig out deeper than a standard drive to fit the storage layer
Geotextile separating layer on the formation
Open-graded permeable sub-base, often Type 3 or 4/20 stone
Porous asphalt binder and surface courses
Overflow to a soakaway or border on slow-draining ground
Edge restraint that does not block the flow

How is it built?

How much does a permeable tarmac driveway cost?

As a 2026 guide at our UK midpoint rate, £80–£125 per m² inc VAT. Edging, drainage and access are itemised separately where they apply.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Porous asphalt drive on a permeable stone base	£80–£125 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,650–£4,100
Example: 50 m² drive	£4,000–£6,250
Example: 80 m² drive	£6,400–£10,000

Rates vary by region:

Region	Guide (inc VAT)
London	£96–£150 per m²
South East	£88–£138 per m²
East of England	£84–£131 per m²
South West	£82–£129 per m²
West Midlands	£80–£125 per m²
East Midlands	£78–£122 per m²
North West	£78–£121 per m²
Yorkshire and the Humber	£77–£120 per m²
North East	£74–£116 per m²
Wales	£76–£119 per m²
Scotland	£78–£122 per m²
Northern Ireland	£70–£110 per m²

Guides only. Your survey turns these into a fixed written price. Full price list · Guide price tool

When it suits

Front gardens where you want to avoid a planning application
Areas with surface-water problems
Owners who prefer black tarmac to block or resin

Watch out for

Heavy clay drains slowly, so the base may need an overflow
Pores clog with soil and leaves unless swept and occasionally vacuum-cleaned
Never pressure-wash hard or reseal with a standard sealer

How long does it take and how long does it last?

On site: Usually 3–5 working days
Lifespan: Often 15 years or more if the pores are kept clear

Do I need planning permission?

It depends where you live and where the water goes.

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.
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.
Scotland: A hard surface between the house and a road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, whatever its size.
Northern Ireland: More than 5 m² of hard surface in front of a house should be porous or drain to a porous area within the property; DfI Roads approves dropped kerbs.

Dropped kerbs always need the highway authority's approval: the council in England, Wales and Scotland, and DfI Roads in Northern Ireland. Read the full planning guide.

What happens next?

Tell us about the job
Use the guide price tool, the form, WhatsApp or the phone. A postcode, rough size and a couple of photos are enough to start.
Survey and measure
We check the ground, levels, edges, drainage and access, and the planning and kerb position where it applies.
Written specification and price
You get an itemised quote listing every layer, the edging, drainage, waste and VAT. The price is fixed once the spec is agreed.
Build day
Dig-out and base first, then hot binder and surface course rolled in, edges finished and the site cleared. You get aftercare notes before we leave.

Permeable tarmac driveways: questions

How much does a permeable tarmac drive cost?

As a 2026 guide, about £80–£125 per m² including VAT for porous asphalt on a full permeable base. It costs more than standard tarmac because the dig is deeper and the stone is different.

Does a permeable drive need planning permission?

In England, a front driveway over 5 m² does not usually need permission if the surface is porous or drains to a permeable area within the property. Permeable tarmac built properly meets that. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own rules.

Does porous asphalt work on clay soil?

It can, but clay drains slowly, so the stone base is made deeper to store water and may need an overflow to a soakaway or border. We check how the ground drains before recommending it.

Can I seal a permeable tarmac drive?

Not with a normal driveway sealer, which closes the pores. Keep it swept and have it vacuum-cleaned if water starts to sit.

Is porous tarmac weaker than normal tarmac?

For cars it performs well. It is not the right choice where heavy lorries turn tightly, which is why most commercial yards use dense asphalt with separate drainage.

Where do we offer permeable tarmac driveway work?

Across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.

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