Permeable tarmac driveways in Belfast

Permeable tarmac driveway prices in Belfast

Local guide rates for Belfast (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

As a 2026 guide in Belfast, permeable tarmac driveway work runs at about £70–£110 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £5,650–£8,800. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

What is included in a permeable tarmac driveway?

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.

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

Layer by layer

Do I need permission in Belfast?

In 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. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from DfI Roads.

Belfast: the local details

What applies in Belfast. We cover Belfast as part of our regular County Antrim rounds.

Postcodes: BT1, BT2, BT7, BT12, BT13, BT3, BT15, BT9
Area: County Antrim
Nearest towns: Castlereagh (2 miles), Newtownabbey (4 miles), Holywood (5 miles), Dundonald (5 miles)
Pricing: Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: DfI Roads

We also cover nearby Castlereagh, Newtownabbey, Holywood, Dundonald, Lisburn.

Questions about permeable tarmac driveways in Belfast

Do I need permission for a permeable tarmac driveway in Belfast?

In 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 are approved by DfI Roads.

Do you work in my part of Belfast?

We cover Belfast including BT1, BT2, BT7, BT12, BT13, BT3, and nearby Castlereagh, Newtownabbey, Holywood.

What is the price of a permeable tarmac driveway in Belfast?

As a 2026 guide in Belfast, permeable tarmac driveway work runs at about £70–£110 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £5,650–£8,800. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

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

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.

Other work in Belfast

Ready for a price in Belfast? Use the guide price tool or send the form, and we'll arrange a visit.