Tar and chip driveways in Seaford

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Seaford?

Local guide rates for Seaford (the South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base	£50–£82 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,500–£4,100
Example: 100 m² drive	£4,950–£8,250
Example: 200 m² drive	£9,400–£15,700

As a 2026 guide in Seaford, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £50–£82 per m² including VAT, so a 100 m² drive is roughly £4,950–£8,250. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Planning and kerb rules for Seaford

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).

Covering Seaford

Seaford at a glance. Smaller towns such as Seaford are surveyed alongside nearby jobs in East Sussex.

Postcodes: BN25
Area: East Sussex
Nearest towns: Peacehaven (5 miles), Rottingdean (8 miles), Eastbourne (8 miles), Lewes (8 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Peacehaven, Rottingdean, Eastbourne, Lewes, Hailsham.

How it is built

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
Chippings spread straight onto the binder
Rolled to bed the stones in
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Questions about tar and chip driveways in Seaford

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

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

Is the survey in Seaford 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.

Are there planning or highway rules in Seaford?

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 work in my part of Seaford?

We cover Seaford including BN25, and nearby Peacehaven, Rottingdean, Eastbourne.

More we do in Seaford

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