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.

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.
| Item | Guide 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
- Permeable tarmac driveways
- New tarmac driveways
- Red tarmac driveways
- Private and access road surfacing
- Front garden to tarmac driveway
- Car park resurfacing
- Everything in Whitehaven
Ready for a price in Whitehaven? Use the guide price tool or send the form, and we'll arrange a visit.
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