Tar and chip driveways in Rochester

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Rochester?

These Rochester guide prices reflect rates in 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

As a 2026 guide in Rochester, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £50–£82 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,500–£4,100. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Covering Rochester

Survey cover and pricing for Rochester. We cover Rochester by grouping surveys with nearby Kent jobs; Maidstone is 8 miles away.

Postcodes: ME1
Area: Kent
Nearest towns: Chatham (1 mile), Strood (1 mile), Gillingham (2 miles), Gravesend (7 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Chatham, Strood, Gillingham, Gravesend, Maidstone.

What the price covers

Hot bitumen sprayed and dressed with rolled stone chippings for a gravel look that stays put.

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
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Do I need permission in Rochester?

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.

Your questions answered

How long will the work take at my Rochester property?

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

Are there planning or highway rules in Rochester?

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).

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

As a 2026 guide in Rochester, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £50–£82 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,500–£4,100. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Do you cover all of Rochester?

We cover Rochester including ME1, and nearby Chatham, Strood, Gillingham.

More we do in Rochester

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