Tar and chip driveways in Birmingham

What does a tar and chip driveway cost in Birmingham?

For Birmingham, we apply the West Midlands rate, in line with our UK midpoint. Your survey turns these ranges into a fixed price.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base	£45–£75 per m²
Example: 50 m² drive	£2,250–£3,750
Example: 100 m² drive	£4,500–£7,500
Example: 200 m² drive	£8,550–£14,250

As a 2026 guide in Birmingham, tar and chip driveway work runs at about £45–£75 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is roughly £2,250–£3,750. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Do I need permission in Birmingham?

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

Where we work in and around Birmingham

Birmingham at a glance. We cover Birmingham as part of our regular West Midlands rounds.

Postcodes: B3, B4, B1, B2, B5, B19, B18, B15
Area: West Midlands
Nearest towns: Smethwick (3 miles), West Bromwich (5 miles), Shirley (6 miles), Halesowen (7 miles)
Pricing: West Midlands, in line with our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Smethwick, West Bromwich, Shirley, Halesowen, Solihull.

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
Chippings spread straight onto the binder
Rolled to bed the stones in
Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Second coat where a double dressing is specified

Your questions answered

Is the survey in Birmingham free?

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 Birmingham property?

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

Do you work in my part of Birmingham?

We cover Birmingham including B3, B4, B1, B2, B5, B19, and nearby Smethwick, West Bromwich, Shirley.

Are there planning or highway rules in Birmingham?

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 Birmingham

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