Tarmac paths and footpaths in Poole

What does a tarmac path cost in Poole?

Local guide rates for Poole (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 Poole, tarmac path work runs at about £57–£93 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² path is roughly £1,250–£2,050. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Covering Poole

What applies in Poole. Poole is one of the bigger places we cover in Dorset, so survey slots come round regularly.

Postcodes: BH15, BH14, BH17, BH16
Area: Dorset
Nearest towns: Bournemouth (5 miles), Wimborne Minster (5 miles), Ferndown (7 miles), Christchurch (9 miles)
Pricing: South West, about 3% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Nearby, we work in Bournemouth, Wimborne Minster, Ferndown, Christchurch, Dorchester.

What the price covers

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.

Path set out to the line and width you want
Excavation to about 150–180 mm with spoil removed
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

Rules that apply in Poole

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.

Questions about tarmac paths in Poole

Is the survey in Poole 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.

Do you work in my part of Poole?

We cover Poole including BH15, BH14, BH17, BH16, and nearby Bournemouth, Wimborne Minster, Ferndown.

How quickly can work start in Poole?

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

Tarmac path cost in Poole: what should I budget?

As a 2026 guide in Poole, tarmac path work runs at about £57–£93 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² path is roughly £1,250–£2,050. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Other work in Poole

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