Permeable tarmac driveways in Plymouth
If you are weighing up permeable tarmac driveways in Plymouth, the useful questions are about depth, edges and drainage. That's what our survey checks and what your quote spells out.

Permeable tarmac driveway prices in Plymouth
For Plymouth, we apply the South West rate, about 3% above our UK midpoint. Your survey turns these ranges into a fixed price.
| 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 Plymouth, permeable tarmac driveway work runs at about £82–£129 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £6,600–£10,300. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.
What the price covers
Open-graded porous asphalt on a deep permeable stone base, so rain soaks through on site.
- Ground check: how fast does the soil drain?
- Geotextile separating layer on the formation
- Open-graded permeable sub-base, often Type 3 or 4/20 stone
- Porous asphalt binder and surface courses
- Edge restraint that does not block the flow
How it is built
Planning and kerb rules for Plymouth
In England, householder permitted development (Class F of the 2015 General Permitted Development Order) lets you lay a hard surface in front of a house without planning permission if it is porous, or if the rainwater is directed to a permeable area within the property. If the area is more than 5 m² and neither applies, you need permission. Standard dense tarmac is not porous, so a dense tarmac drive needs a lawn, border, channel to a soakaway or other permeable route for its water. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).
Covering Plymouth
Survey cover and pricing for Plymouth. As one of the larger towns in Devon, Plymouth sees regular survey visits.
- Postcodes
- PL1, PL4, PL3, PL2, PL6, PL10
- Area
- Devon
- Nearest towns
- Plymstock (2 miles), Saltash (4 miles)
- Pricing
- South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
- Kerb approvals
- The highway authority
Close to Plymouth: Plymstock, Saltash.
Plymouth: common questions
Which Plymouth postcodes do you cover?
We cover Plymouth including PL1, PL4, PL3, PL2, PL6, PL10, and nearby Plymstock, Saltash.
Are there planning or highway rules in Plymouth?
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).
Can I get a free survey in Plymouth?
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.
How much does a permeable tarmac driveway cost in Plymouth?
As a 2026 guide in Plymouth, permeable tarmac driveway work runs at about £82–£129 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £6,600–£10,300. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.
Also in Plymouth
- Private and access road surfacing
- Car park surfacing
- Tarmac driveway resurfacing
- Car park resurfacing
- New tarmac driveways
- Car park and yard repairs
- Everything in Plymouth
Send us a postcode, a rough size and a photo or two, and we'll come back with survey dates for Plymouth.
Permeable tarmac driveways in Plymouth: 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