Tar and chip driveways in Chesham

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Chesham?

Local guide rates for Chesham (the South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base	£50–£82 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,500–£4,100
Example: 100 m² drive	£4,950–£8,250
Example: 200 m² drive	£9,400–£15,700

As a 2026 guide in Chesham, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £50–£82 per m² including VAT, so a 100 m² drive is roughly £4,950–£8,250. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

What is included in a tar and chip driveway?

Hot bitumen sprayed and dressed with rolled stone chippings for a gravel look that stays put.

Base prepared: new MOT Type 1 sub-base, or an existing sound tarmac or stone base
Hot bitumen or emulsion sprayed evenly
Rolled to bed the stones in
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

How it is built

Planning and kerb rules for Chesham

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. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.

Where we work in and around Chesham

Survey cover and pricing for Chesham. We cover Chesham by grouping surveys with nearby Buckinghamshire jobs; Milton Keynes is 25 miles away.

Postcodes: HP5
Area: Buckinghamshire
Nearest towns: Amersham (2 miles), Berkhamsted (4 miles), Chalfont St Peter (7 miles), Rickmansworth (7 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Amersham, Berkhamsted, Chalfont St Peter, Rickmansworth, Hemel Hempstead.

Your questions answered

What is the price of a tar and chip driveway in Chesham?

As a 2026 guide in Chesham, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £50–£82 per m² including VAT, so a 100 m² drive is roughly £4,950–£8,250. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Is the survey in Chesham 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 long will the work take at my Chesham property?

Often 1–3 days depending on base work. We book Chesham surveys alongside other jobs in Buckinghamshire, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.

Do I need permission for a tar and chip driveway in Chesham?

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 Chesham

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