Tar and chip driveways in Tunbridge Wells

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Tunbridge Wells?

Local guide rates for Tunbridge Wells (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 Tunbridge Wells, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £50–£82 per m² including VAT, so a 100 m² drive is roughly £4,950–£8,250. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

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.

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
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days

Covering Tunbridge Wells

What applies in Tunbridge Wells. We reach Tunbridge Wells on our Kent survey days; Maidstone is 14 miles away.

Postcodes: TN1, TN2, TN4, TN3
Area: Kent
Nearest towns: Tonbridge (4 miles), Crowborough (7 miles), Sevenoaks (10 miles), East Grinstead (12 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Tonbridge, Crowborough, Sevenoaks, East Grinstead, Maidstone.

Do I need permission in Tunbridge Wells?

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).

How it is built

Tunbridge Wells: common questions

How long will the work take at my Tunbridge Wells property?

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

Will someone visit before I get a fixed price in Tunbridge Wells?

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 Tunbridge Wells?

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).

Do you work in my part of Tunbridge Wells?

We cover Tunbridge Wells including TN1, TN2, TN4, TN3, and nearby Tonbridge, Crowborough, Sevenoaks.

More we do in Tunbridge Wells

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