Permeable tarmac driveways in Newtownards
A good permeable tarmac driveway in Newtownards looks the same as a poor one on the day it is laid. The difference shows a few winters later, which is why our quotes list what goes underneath.
What does a permeable tarmac driveway cost in Newtownards?
Guide prices below are for Newtownards, adjusted for Northern Ireland, where surfacing rates run 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 Newtownards, 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.
Do I need permission in Newtownards?
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.
Newtownards: the local details
Newtownards at a glance. We cover Newtownards by grouping surveys with nearby County Down jobs; Bangor, County Down is 5 miles away.
- Postcodes
- BT23
- Area
- County Down
- Nearest towns
- Comber (4 miles), Dundonald (4 miles), Bangor (Down) (5 miles), Holywood (6 miles)
- Pricing
- Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
- Kerb approvals
- DfI Roads
We also cover nearby Comber, Dundonald, Bangor (Down), Holywood, Castlereagh.
The build-up we price
What the price covers
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
- Overflow to a soakaway or border on slow-draining ground
- Edge restraint that does not block the flow
Your questions answered
How long does a permeable tarmac driveway take in Newtownards?
Usually 3–5 working days. We book Newtownards surveys alongside other jobs in County Down, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.
Is the survey in Newtownards free?
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.
Do you cover all of Newtownards?
We cover Newtownards including BT23, and nearby Comber, Dundonald, Bangor (Down).
How much does a permeable tarmac driveway cost in Newtownards?
As a 2026 guide in Newtownards, 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.
Other work in Newtownards
- Car park surfacing
- Front garden to tarmac driveway
- Car park resurfacing
- Tarmac driveway resurfacing
- Private and access road surfacing
- Car park and yard repairs
- Everything in Newtownards
Ready for a price in Newtownards? Use the guide price tool or send the form, and we'll arrange a visit.
Permeable tarmac driveways in Newtownards: get a written 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