Permeable tarmac driveways in County Down
Looking for permeable tarmac driveways in County Down? 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 Down?
Rates in County Down 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 Down
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
- 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
Rules in County Down
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 Down: questions
How much does a permeable tarmac driveway cost in County Down?
As a 2026 guide, about £70–£110 per m² inc VAT in County Down. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in County Down do you cover?
Bangor, County Down, Castlereagh, Newtownards, Newry, Banbridge, Dundonald, Holywood, Downpatrick and more.
How long does a permeable tarmac driveway take?
Usually 3–5 working days.
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.
Other services in County Down
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