Permeable tarmac driveways in Eastbourne

What does a permeable tarmac driveway cost in Eastbourne?

Guide prices below are for Eastbourne, adjusted for the South East, where surfacing rates run about 10% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Porous asphalt drive on a permeable stone base	£88–£138 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,900–£4,550
Example: 50 m² drive	£4,400–£6,900
Example: 80 m² drive	£7,050–£11,000

As a 2026 guide in Eastbourne, permeable tarmac driveway work runs at about £88–£138 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £7,050–£11,000. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

How it is built

Covering Eastbourne

Eastbourne at a glance. As one of the larger towns in East Sussex, Eastbourne sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: BN21, BN22, BN20, BN23, BN24
Area: East Sussex
Nearest towns: Hailsham (7 miles), Seaford (8 miles), Bexhill-on-Sea (10 miles), Peacehaven (13 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Hailsham, Seaford, Bexhill-on-Sea, Peacehaven, Lewes.

What is included in a permeable tarmac driveway?

Open-graded porous asphalt on a deep permeable stone base, so rain soaks through on site.

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
Edge restraint that does not block the flow

Rules that apply in Eastbourne

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).

Questions about permeable tarmac driveways in Eastbourne

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

As a 2026 guide in Eastbourne, permeable tarmac driveway work runs at about £88–£138 per m² including VAT, so a 80 m² drive is roughly £7,050–£11,000. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Do you work in my part of Eastbourne?

We cover Eastbourne including BN21, BN22, BN20, BN23, BN24, and nearby Hailsham, Seaford, Bexhill-on-Sea.

Are there planning or highway rules in Eastbourne?

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 Eastbourne?

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.

Also in Eastbourne

Tell us what you have in mind for Eastbourne and we'll book a survey and put the specification in writing.