Tar and chip driveways in Greenwich

Tar and chip driveway prices in Greenwich

These Greenwich guide prices reflect rates in 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 Greenwich, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £54–£90 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,700–£4,500. 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.

Edges set with kerbs, setts or cobbles
Hot bitumen or emulsion sprayed evenly
Chippings spread straight onto the binder
Rolled to bed the stones in
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Greenwich: the local details

Greenwich at a glance. We cover Greenwich as part of our regular Greater London rounds.

Postcodes: SE10, SE8
Area: Greater London
Nearest towns: Blackheath (1 mile), Catford (2 miles), Peckham (3 miles), Canning Town (3 miles)
Pricing: London, about 20% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Blackheath, Catford, Peckham, Canning Town, Eltham.

Do I need permission in Greenwich?

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. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.

How it is built

Your questions answered

Can I get a free survey in Greenwich?

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 I need permission for a tar and chip driveway in Greenwich?

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 Greenwich?

We cover Greenwich including SE10, SE8, and nearby Blackheath, Catford, Peckham.

How quickly can work start in Greenwich?

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

Also in Greenwich

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