Tar and chip driveways in Kent
We survey and price tar and chip driveways across Kent, from Maidstone to Gillingham and Chatham, with every layer written into the quote.

How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in Kent?
Rates in Kent follow the South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base | £50–£82 per m² |
| Example: 50 m² drive | £2,500–£4,100 |
| Example: 100 m² drive | £4,950–£8,250 |
| Example: 200 m² drive | £9,400–£15,700 |
Towns we cover in Kent
- Maidstone
- Gillingham
- Chatham
- Tunbridge Wells
- Folkestone
- Margate
- Ashford, Kent
- Canterbury
- Sittingbourne
- Gravesend
- Dartford
- Ramsgate
- Dover
- Tonbridge
- Strood
- Whitstable
- Deal
- Sevenoaks
- Rochester
- Herne Bay
- Broadstairs
- Faversham
- Swanley
- Swanscombe
Postcode areas: BR, CT, DA, ME, RM, TN.
What is included?
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
- Chippings spread straight onto the binder
- Rolled to bed the stones in
- Second coat where a double dressing is specified
Rules in Kent
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. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.
Tar and chip driveways in Kent: questions
How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in Kent?
As a 2026 guide, about £50–£82 per m² inc VAT in Kent. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Kent do you cover?
Maidstone, Gillingham, Chatham, Tunbridge Wells, Folkestone, Margate, Ashford, Kent, Canterbury and more.
How long does a tar and chip driveway take?
Often 1–3 days depending on base work.
Does tar and chip need planning permission?
Tar and chip is a sealed surface, so treat it like tarmac: in England, over 5 m² in front of the house needs the water to drain to a permeable area within the property, or planning permission.
Other services in Kent
Get a written tarmac quote
Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED