Permeable tarmac driveways in County Antrim
Looking for permeable tarmac driveways in County Antrim? Start with a guide price, then a survey that turns it into a fixed, written specification.
How much does a permeable tarmac driveway cost in County Antrim?
Rates in County Antrim follow Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Porous asphalt drive on a permeable stone base | £70–£110 per m² |
| Example: 30 m² drive | £2,300–£3,650 |
| Example: 50 m² drive | £3,500–£5,500 |
| Example: 80 m² drive | £5,650–£8,800 |
Towns we cover in County Antrim
Postcode areas: BT.
What is included?
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.
- 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
- Overflow to a soakaway or border on slow-draining ground
- Edge restraint that does not block the flow
Rules in County Antrim
In Northern Ireland, the Planning (General Permitted Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 2015 allows a hard surface between the front of a house and a road without permission if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, once it exceeds 5 m². Listed buildings and some access changes need permission. Any new or altered vehicle access onto a public road needs approval from DfI Roads, not the council.
How it is built
Permeable tarmac driveways in County Antrim: questions
How much does a permeable tarmac driveway cost in County Antrim?
As a 2026 guide, about £70–£110 per m² inc VAT in County Antrim. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in County Antrim do you cover?
Belfast, Lisburn, Newtownabbey, Carrickfergus, Ballymena, Antrim, Larne, Ballymoney and more.
How long does a permeable tarmac driveway take?
Usually 3–5 working days.
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.
Other services in County Antrim
Get a written tarmac quote
Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED