Red tarmac driveways in Carrickfergus

How much should I budget in Carrickfergus?

Guide prices below are for Carrickfergus, adjusted for Northern Ireland, where surfacing rates run about 12% below our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Red tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base	£66–£101 per m²
Example: 30 m² drive	£2,200–£3,350
Example: 50 m² drive	£3,300–£5,050
Example: 80 m² drive	£5,300–£8,100

As a 2026 guide in Carrickfergus, red tarmac driveway work runs at about £66–£101 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £3,300–£5,050. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Rules that apply in Carrickfergus

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.

Where we work in and around Carrickfergus

Survey cover and pricing for Carrickfergus. We cover Carrickfergus by grouping surveys with nearby County Antrim jobs; Belfast is 10 miles away.

Postcodes: BT38
Area: County Antrim
Nearest towns: Holywood (5 miles), Newtownabbey (6 miles), Bangor (Down) (7 miles), Ballyclare (8 miles)
Pricing: Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: DfI Roads

The same service is available in Holywood, Newtownabbey, Bangor (Down), Ballyclare, Dundonald.

What the price covers

Red tarmac is ordinary asphalt with a red pigment, and often red aggregate, in the surface course, laid on the same sub-base and binder course as a black tarmac drive.

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
Falls and drainage set as for any new drive

Carrickfergus: common questions

What approvals apply in Carrickfergus?

In Northern Ireland, more than 5 m² of hard surface in front of a house should be porous or drain to a porous area within the property; DfI Roads approves dropped kerbs. Dropped kerbs are approved by DfI Roads.

How quickly can work start in Carrickfergus?

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

Can I get a free survey in Carrickfergus?

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 red tarmac driveway cost in Carrickfergus?

As a 2026 guide in Carrickfergus, red tarmac driveway work runs at about £66–£101 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £3,300–£5,050. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Other work in Carrickfergus

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