Driveways and paths · Cumbria

Tar and chip driveways in Whitehaven

Tar and chip driveways in Whitehaven start with the parts you won't see: how deep the ground is dug, how much stone goes back in, and where the rain will run once the drive is sealed.

WHITEHAVEN GUIDE£44–£73 per m² inc VAT
Tar and chip driveway with golden chippings leading to a country cottage, typical of tar and chip driveway work

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Whitehaven?

These Whitehaven guide prices reflect rates in the North West, about 3% below our UK midpoint.

ItemGuide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base£44–£73 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive£2,200–£3,650
Example: 100 m² drive£4,350–£7,300
Example: 200 m² drive£8,300–£13,800

As a 2026 guide in Whitehaven, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £44–£73 per m² including VAT, so a 100 m² drive is roughly £4,350–£7,300. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

What we do on 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
  • Edges set with kerbs, setts or cobbles
  • Chippings spread straight onto the binder
  • Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
  • Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Covering Whitehaven

What applies in Whitehaven. Whitehaven is covered on our Cumbria rounds, 35 miles from Carlisle.

Postcodes
CA28, CA24, CA25, CA27, CA26, CA23, CA22
Area
Cumbria
Nearest towns
Workington (7 miles)
Pricing
North West, about 3% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals
The highway authority

The same service is available in Workington.

Rules that apply in Whitehaven

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

Whitehaven: common questions

Is the survey in Whitehaven 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.

Do you cover all of Whitehaven?

We cover Whitehaven including CA28, CA24, CA25, CA27, CA26, CA23, and nearby Workington.

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

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).

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

As a 2026 guide in Whitehaven, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £44–£73 per m² including VAT, so a 100 m² drive is roughly £4,350–£7,300. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

More we do in Whitehaven

Ready for a price in Whitehaven? Use the guide price tool or send the form, and we'll arrange a visit.

Free survey for new surfacing

Tar and chip driveways in Whitehaven: get a written quote

Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.

  • Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
  • Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
  • Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
  • Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED
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