Tar and chip driveways in Mitcham

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Mitcham?

These Mitcham 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 Mitcham, 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.

The build-up we price

Planning and kerb rules for Mitcham

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.

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.

Edges set with kerbs, setts or cobbles
Hot bitumen or emulsion sprayed evenly
Rolled to bed the stones in
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Covering Mitcham

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

Postcodes: CR4
Area: Greater London
Nearest towns: Morden (1 mile), Wimbledon (2 miles), Streatham (2 miles), Carshalton (2 miles)
Pricing: London, about 20% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Close to Mitcham: Morden, Wimbledon, Streatham, Carshalton, Croydon.

Mitcham: common questions

Tar and chip driveway cost in Mitcham: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Mitcham, 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. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

How quickly can work start in Mitcham?

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

Can I get a free survey in Mitcham?

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.

What approvals apply in Mitcham?

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).

Also in Mitcham

Send us a postcode, a rough size and a photo or two, and we'll come back with survey dates for Mitcham.