Tar and chip driveways in Derry

Tar and chip driveway prices in Derry

Local guide rates for Derry (Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base	£40–£66 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,000–£3,300
Example: 100 m² drive	£3,950–£6,600
Example: 200 m² drive	£7,500–£12,550

As a 2026 guide in Derry, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £40–£66 per m² including VAT, so a 200 m² drive is roughly £7,500–£12,550. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Planning and kerb rules for Derry

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.

Derry: the local details

The key facts for Derry. We cover Derry as part of our regular County Londonderry rounds.

Postcodes: BT48, BT47
Area: County Londonderry
Nearest towns: Limavady (15 miles)
Pricing: Northern Ireland, about 12% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: DfI Roads

The same service is available in Limavady.

How it is built

What we do on 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.

Hot bitumen or emulsion sprayed evenly
Chippings spread straight onto the binder
Rolled to bed the stones in
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Derry: common questions

Will someone visit before I get a fixed price in Derry?

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.

Do you cover all of Derry?

We cover Derry including BT48, BT47, and nearby Limavady.

What approvals apply in Derry?

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 long does a tar and chip driveway take in Derry?

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

Also in Derry

Questions about tar and chip driveways in Derry? Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we'll talk it through.