Red tarmac driveways in Cambridge

How much should I budget in Cambridge?

Guide prices below are for Cambridge, adjusted for the East of England, where surfacing rates run about 5% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Red tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£79–£121 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,600–£4,000
Example: 50 m² drive	£3,950–£6,050
Example: 80 m² drive	£6,300–£9,650

As a 2026 guide in Cambridge, red tarmac driveway work runs at about £79–£121 per m² including VAT, so a 30 m² drive is roughly £2,600–£4,000. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Where we work in and around Cambridge

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

Postcodes: CB2, CB1, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB22, CB24
Area: Cambridgeshire
Nearest towns: St Ives (12 miles), Ely (15 miles), Huntingdon (16 miles), St Neots (16 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Close to Cambridge: St Ives, Ely, Huntingdon, St Neots, March.

What is included in a red tarmac driveway?

Pigmented red asphalt on the same full build, often framed with a charcoal block border.

Full dig-out and MOT Type 1 sub-base, about 150 mm
Black AC 20 binder course, about 50–60 mm
Red pigmented surface course, about 20–30 mm
Contrasting block or kerb border as edge restraint
Colour sample discussed before ordering

Do I need permission in Cambridge?

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 red tarmac driveways in Cambridge

Which Cambridge postcodes do you cover?

We cover Cambridge including CB2, CB1, CB3, CB4, CB5, CB22, and nearby St Ives, Ely, Huntingdon.

Is the survey in Cambridge 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.

How quickly can work start in Cambridge?

Usually 2–4 working days. We book Cambridge surveys alongside other jobs in Cambridgeshire, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.

Do I need permission for a red tarmac driveway in Cambridge?

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).

Other work in Cambridge

Send us a postcode, a rough size and a photo or two, and we'll come back with survey dates for Cambridge.