Tar and chip driveways in Wigan

Tar and chip driveway prices in Wigan

These Wigan guide prices reflect rates in the North West, 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 Wigan, 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.

Where we work in and around Wigan

The key facts for Wigan. Wigan is one of the bigger places we cover in Greater Manchester, so survey slots come round regularly.

Postcodes: WN1, WN3, WN5, WN6
Area: Greater Manchester
Nearest towns: Hindley (2 miles), Ashton-in-Makerfield (4 miles), Westhoughton (5 miles), Golborne (5 miles)
Pricing: North West, about 3% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Hindley, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Westhoughton, Golborne, Horwich.

Planning and kerb rules for Wigan

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. A vehicle crossing over the footway is a separate approval, from the highway authority (the county or unitary council).

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.

Base prepared: new MOT Type 1 sub-base, or an existing sound tarmac or stone base
Edges set with kerbs, setts or cobbles
Hot bitumen or emulsion sprayed evenly
Rolled to bed the stones in
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Layer by layer

Your questions answered

Can I get a free survey in Wigan?

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 will the work take at my Wigan property?

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

Do you cover all of Wigan?

We cover Wigan including WN1, WN3, WN5, WN6, and nearby Hindley, Ashton-in-Makerfield, Westhoughton.

What approvals apply in Wigan?

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 Wigan

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