Tar and chip driveways in Oldham

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Oldham?

Guide prices below are for Oldham, adjusted for the North West, where surfacing rates run about 3% below our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base	£44–£73 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,200–£3,650
Example: 100 m² drive	£4,350–£7,300
Example: 200 m² drive	£8,300–£13,800

As a 2026 guide in Oldham, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £44–£73 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,200–£3,650. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Rules that apply in Oldham

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. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

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

Layer by layer

Where we work in and around Oldham

Survey cover and pricing for Oldham. We cover Oldham as part of our regular Greater Manchester rounds.

Postcodes: OL1, OL8, OL4
Area: Greater Manchester
Nearest towns: Chadderton (1 mile), Royton (2 miles), Failsworth (3 miles), Middleton (3 miles)
Pricing: North West, about 3% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Chadderton, Royton, Failsworth, Middleton, Ashton-under-Lyne.

Questions about tar and chip driveways in Oldham

Can I get a free survey in Oldham?

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 Oldham?

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).

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

As a 2026 guide in Oldham, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £44–£73 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,200–£3,650. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Do you cover all of Oldham?

We cover Oldham including OL1, OL8, OL4, and nearby Chadderton, Royton, Failsworth.

Also in Oldham

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