Tar and chip driveways in Exmouth

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Exmouth?

These Exmouth guide prices reflect rates in the South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base	£46–£77 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,300–£3,850
Example: 100 m² drive	£4,650–£7,700
Example: 200 m² drive	£8,800–£14,700

As a 2026 guide in Exmouth, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £46–£77 per m² including VAT, so a 200 m² drive is roughly £8,800–£14,700. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

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
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

Where we work in and around Exmouth

Exmouth at a glance. Exmouth sits 37 miles from Plymouth, within our regular Devon cover.

Postcodes: EX8, EX7, EX9
Area: Devon
Nearest towns: Exeter (9 miles), Newton Abbot (11 miles), Torquay (12 miles), Paignton (14 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Exeter, Newton Abbot, Torquay, Paignton, Brixham.

Do I need permission in Exmouth?

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.

How it is built

Questions about tar and chip driveways in Exmouth

What approvals apply in Exmouth?

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 quickly can work start in Exmouth?

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

Is the survey in Exmouth 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.

Tar and chip driveway cost in Exmouth: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Exmouth, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £46–£77 per m² including VAT, so a 200 m² drive is roughly £8,800–£14,700. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Other work in Exmouth

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