Tar and chip driveways in Ely

Tar and chip driveway prices in Ely

Local guide rates for Ely (the East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base	£47–£79 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,350–£3,950
Example: 100 m² drive	£4,700–£7,900
Example: 200 m² drive	£9,000–£14,950

As a 2026 guide in Ely, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £47–£79 per m² including VAT, so a 200 m² drive is roughly £9,000–£14,950. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

The build-up we price

Ely: the local details

Ely at a glance. Smaller towns such as Ely are surveyed alongside nearby jobs in Cambridgeshire.

Postcodes: CB6, CB7
Area: Cambridgeshire
Nearest towns: March (13 miles), St Ives (15 miles), Cambridge (15 miles), Wisbech (19 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in March, St Ives, Cambridge, Wisbech, Huntingdon.

Planning and kerb rules for Ely

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. A vehicle crossing over the footway is a separate approval, from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

What is included in a tar and chip driveway?

Tar and chip, also called surface dressing, is a layer of bitumen sprayed onto a prepared base and immediately covered with stone chippings, which are rolled in so the surface looks like gravel but behaves like a bound drive.

Base prepared: new MOT Type 1 sub-base, or an existing sound tarmac or stone base
Edges set with kerbs, setts or cobbles
Hot bitumen or emulsion sprayed evenly
Chippings spread straight onto the binder
Rolled to bed the stones in

Your questions answered

Are there planning or highway rules in Ely?

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).

How long will the work take at my Ely property?

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

Is the survey in Ely 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.

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

As a 2026 guide in Ely, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £47–£79 per m² including VAT, so a 200 m² drive is roughly £9,000–£14,950. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

More we do in Ely

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