Tarmac paths and footpaths in Hove

How much should I budget in Hove?

Guide prices below are for Hove, 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 Hove, 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.

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

Do I need permission in Hove?

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.

How it is built

Hove: the local details

What applies in Hove. We cover Hove as part of our regular East Sussex rounds.

Postcodes: BN52, BN3
Area: East Sussex
Nearest towns: Brighton (1 mile), Portslade (2 miles), Shoreham-by-Sea (5 miles), Rottingdean (5 miles)
Pricing: South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

Close to Hove: Brighton, Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea, Rottingdean, Lancing.

Questions about tarmac paths in Hove

Are there planning or highway rules in Hove?

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).

What is the price of a tarmac path in Hove?

As a 2026 guide in Hove, 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 you cover all of Hove?

We cover Hove including BN52, BN3, and nearby Brighton, Portslade, Shoreham-by-Sea.

How quickly can work start in Hove?

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

Other work in Hove

Questions about tarmac paths in Hove? Call, WhatsApp or use the form, and we'll talk it through.