Tar and chip driveways in Newton Abbot

Tar and chip driveway prices in Newton Abbot

Local guide rates for Newton Abbot (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 Newton Abbot, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £46–£77 per m² including VAT, so a 100 m² drive is roughly £4,650–£7,700. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Where we work in and around Newton Abbot

What applies in Newton Abbot. Newton Abbot is 26 miles from Plymouth, and we survey there as part of Devon cover.

Postcodes: TQ12, TQ14
Area: Devon
Nearest towns: Torquay (6 miles), Paignton (7 miles), Brixham (10 miles), Exmouth (11 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Torquay, Paignton, Brixham, Exmouth, Exeter.

What the price covers

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.

Edges set with kerbs, setts or cobbles
Hot bitumen or emulsion sprayed evenly
Rolled to bed the stones in
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

The build-up we price

Do I need permission in Newton Abbot?

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).

Your questions answered

How long will the work take at my Newton Abbot property?

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

Are there planning or highway rules in Newton Abbot?

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).

Will someone visit before I get a fixed price in Newton Abbot?

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 work in my part of Newton Abbot?

We cover Newton Abbot including TQ12, TQ14, and nearby Torquay, Paignton, Brixham.

Also in Newton Abbot

Send us a postcode, a rough size and a photo or two, and we'll come back with survey dates for Newton Abbot.