Tarmac paths and footpaths in Earley

What does a tarmac path cost in Earley?

Guide prices below are for Earley, adjusted for the South East, where surfacing rates run about 10% above our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tarmac garden path or footpath, hand-laid	£61–£99 per m²
Example: 10 m² path	£730–£1,200
Example: 20 m² path	£1,350–£2,200
Example: 40 m² path	£2,400–£3,950

As a 2026 guide in Earley, tarmac path work runs at about £61–£99 per m² including VAT, so a 40 m² path is roughly £2,400–£3,950. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Earley: the local details

Survey cover and pricing for Earley. We reach Earley on our Berkshire survey days; Reading is 3 miles away.

Postcodes: RG6, RG2, RG5, RG10
Area: Berkshire
Nearest towns: Reading (3 miles), Wokingham (4 miles), Crowthorne (7 miles), Yateley (7 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Reading, Wokingham, Crowthorne, Yateley, Bracknell.

Do I need permission in Earley?

Repairs, paths and edging work rarely need planning permission. 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.

Layer by layer

What we do on a tarmac path

A tarmac path is a lighter version of a drive build: a compacted stone base of around 100 mm, a binder course and a fine surface course, laid by hand and held in by timber edging, kerbs or blocks.

Excavation to about 150–180 mm with spoil removed
MOT Type 1 base, about 100 mm, compacted
Timber, kerb or block edging on both sides
Binder and surface course laid hot by hand and rolled
Gentle cross-fall so water runs off to the border

Questions about tarmac paths in Earley

Do you work in my part of Earley?

We cover Earley including RG6, RG2, RG5, RG10, and nearby Reading, Wokingham, Crowthorne.

Tarmac path cost in Earley: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Earley, tarmac path work runs at about £61–£99 per m² including VAT, so a 40 m² path is roughly £2,400–£3,950. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Do I need permission for a tarmac path in Earley?

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).

Can I get a free survey in Earley?

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.

Other work in Earley

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