Tar and chip driveways in Plymstock

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Plymstock?

Guide prices below are for Plymstock, adjusted for the South West, where surfacing rates run 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 Plymstock, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £46–£77 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,300–£3,850. 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
Edges set with kerbs, setts or cobbles
Hot bitumen or emulsion sprayed evenly
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Rules that apply in Plymstock

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. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

Where we work in and around Plymstock

The key facts for Plymstock. Smaller towns such as Plymstock are surveyed alongside nearby jobs in Devon.

Postcodes: PL9, PL7, PL8
Area: Devon
Nearest towns: Plymouth (2 miles), Saltash (7 miles), Paignton (24 miles), Newton Abbot (24 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Plymouth, Saltash, Paignton, Newton Abbot.

Layer by layer

Your questions answered

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

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).

Do you cover all of Plymstock?

We cover Plymstock including PL9, PL7, PL8, and nearby Plymouth, Saltash, Paignton.

How long does a tar and chip driveway take in Plymstock?

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

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

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.

Other work in Plymstock

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