Tar and chip driveways in Brent

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Brent?

Local guide rates for Brent (London, about 20% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base	£54–£90 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,700–£4,500
Example: 100 m² drive	£5,400–£9,000
Example: 200 m² drive	£10,250–£17,100

As a 2026 guide in Brent, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £54–£90 per m² including VAT, so a 200 m² drive is roughly £10,250–£17,100. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Brent: the local details

Brent at a glance. As one of the larger towns in Greater London, Brent sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: HA0, HA9
Area: Greater London
Nearest towns: Harrow (2 miles), Greenford (3 miles), Northolt (3 miles), Acton (3 miles)
Pricing: London, about 20% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Harrow, Greenford, Northolt, Acton, Willesden.

Do I need permission in Brent?

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).

What we do on 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
Rolled to bed the stones in
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Your questions answered

What approvals apply in Brent?

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 Brent?

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 Brent: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Brent, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £54–£90 per m² including VAT, so a 200 m² drive is roughly £10,250–£17,100. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

How long will the work take at my Brent property?

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

More we do in Brent

Ready for a price in Brent? Use the guide price tool or send the form, and we'll arrange a visit.