Tarmac paths and footpaths in Grays

How much should I budget in Grays?

Local guide rates for Grays (the East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint):

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tarmac garden path or footpath, hand-laid	£58–£94 per m²
Example: 10 m² path	£690–£1,150
Example: 20 m² path	£1,250–£2,100
Example: 40 m² path	£2,300–£3,800

As a 2026 guide in Grays, tarmac path work runs at about £58–£94 per m² including VAT, so a 20 m² path is roughly £1,250–£2,100. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

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.

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

Grays: the local details

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

Postcodes: RM17, RM16, RM20
Area: Essex
Nearest towns: Swanscombe (2 miles), South Ockendon (3 miles), Gravesend (3 miles), Dartford (5 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Swanscombe, South Ockendon, Gravesend, Dartford, Stanford-le-Hope.

Planning and kerb rules for Grays

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.

Your questions answered

Do you work in my part of Grays?

We cover Grays including RM17, RM16, RM20, and nearby Swanscombe, South Ockendon, Gravesend.

What approvals apply in Grays?

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).

Is the survey in Grays 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 Grays property?

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

Other work in Grays

Send us a postcode, a rough size and a photo or two, and we'll come back with survey dates for Grays.