Permeable tarmac driveways in Exeter

How much should I budget in Exeter?

Guide prices below are for Exeter, adjusted for the South West, where surfacing rates run about 3% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Porous asphalt drive on a permeable stone base	£82–£129 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,700–£4,250
Example: 50 m² drive	£4,100–£6,450
Example: 80 m² drive	£6,600–£10,300

As a 2026 guide in Exeter, permeable tarmac driveway work runs at about £82–£129 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £4,100–£6,450. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed 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.

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
Overflow to a soakaway or border on slow-draining ground
Edge restraint that does not block the flow

Rules that apply in Exeter

In 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. A vehicle crossing over the footway is a separate approval, from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Exeter: the local details

The key facts for Exeter. Exeter is one of the bigger places we cover in Devon, so survey slots come round regularly.

Postcodes: EX4, EX2, EX1, EX3, EX6, EX5
Area: Devon
Nearest towns: Exmouth (9 miles), Tiverton (12 miles), Newton Abbot (14 miles), Torquay (18 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Exmouth, Tiverton, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton.

Exeter: common questions

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

As a 2026 guide in Exeter, permeable tarmac driveway work runs at about £82–£129 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £4,100–£6,450. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Can I get a free survey in Exeter?

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.

Are there planning or highway rules in Exeter?

In 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. Dropped kerbs are approved by the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

How quickly can work start in Exeter?

Usually 3–5 working days. We book Exeter surveys alongside other jobs in Devon, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.

Also in Exeter

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