Tarmac paths and footpaths in Torquay

How much should I budget in Torquay?

Local guide rates for Torquay (the South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tarmac garden path or footpath, hand-laid	£57–£93 per m²
Example: 10 m² path	£680–£1,100
Example: 20 m² path	£1,250–£2,050
Example: 40 m² path	£2,250–£3,700

As a 2026 guide in Torquay, tarmac path work runs at about £57–£93 per m² including VAT, so a 40 m² path is roughly £2,250–£3,700. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Covering Torquay

Torquay at a glance. Torquay sits 28 miles from Plymouth, within our regular Devon cover.

Postcodes: TQ1, TQ2
Area: Devon
Nearest towns: Paignton (3 miles), Brixham (5 miles), Newton Abbot (6 miles), Exmouth (12 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Paignton, Brixham, Newton Abbot, Exmouth, Exeter.

Planning and kerb rules for Torquay

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

What is included in 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 Torquay

How long will the work take at my Torquay property?

Often 1–2 days. We book Torquay surveys alongside other jobs in Devon, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.

Tarmac path cost in Torquay: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Torquay, tarmac path work runs at about £57–£93 per m² including VAT, so a 40 m² path is roughly £2,250–£3,700. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Do I need permission for a tarmac path in Torquay?

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 Torquay?

We cover Torquay including TQ1, TQ2, and nearby Paignton, Brixham, Newton Abbot.

Also in Torquay

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