Tar and chip driveways in Harwich

How much should I budget in Harwich?

Local guide rates for Harwich (the East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base	£47–£79 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,350–£3,950
Example: 100 m² drive	£4,700–£7,900
Example: 200 m² drive	£9,000–£14,950

As a 2026 guide in Harwich, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £47–£79 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,350–£3,950. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Where we work in and around Harwich

Survey cover and pricing for Harwich. Harwich is covered on our Essex rounds, 37 miles from Southend-on-Sea.

Postcodes: CO12
Area: Essex
Nearest towns: Felixstowe (3 miles), Walton-on-the-Naze (7 miles), Frinton-on-Sea (8 miles), Ipswich (10 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Close to Harwich: Felixstowe, Walton-on-the-Naze, Frinton-on-Sea, Ipswich, Clacton-on-Sea.

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.

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

Do I need permission in Harwich?

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).

Your questions answered

Which Harwich postcodes do you cover?

We cover Harwich including CO12, and nearby Felixstowe, Walton-on-the-Naze, Frinton-on-Sea.

Can I get a free survey in Harwich?

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.

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

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

What is the price of a tar and chip driveway in Harwich?

As a 2026 guide in Harwich, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £47–£79 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,350–£3,950. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

More we do in Harwich

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