Tarmac paths and footpaths in Harlow

Tarmac path prices in Harlow

Guide prices below are for Harlow, adjusted for the East of England, where surfacing rates run 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 Harlow, tarmac path work runs at about £58–£94 per m² including VAT, so a 10 m² path is roughly £690–£1,150. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

What is included in a tarmac path?

Garden paths, side passages and footpaths in hot-laid tarmac, edged with timber, kerbs or blocks.

Path set out to the line and width you want
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

Planning and kerb rules for Harlow

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.

Harlow: the local details

Harlow at a glance. As one of the larger towns in Essex, Harlow sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: CM20, CM18, CM17, CM19, CM21, CM16
Area: Essex
Nearest towns: Hoddesdon (5 miles), Ware (6 miles), Bishops Stortford (7 miles), Waltham Abbey (8 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

We also cover nearby Hoddesdon, Ware, Bishops Stortford, Waltham Abbey, Cheshunt.

Your questions answered

What is the price of a tarmac path in Harlow?

As a 2026 guide in Harlow, tarmac path work runs at about £58–£94 per m² including VAT, so a 10 m² path is roughly £690–£1,150. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.

Do you work in my part of Harlow?

We cover Harlow including CM20, CM18, CM17, CM19, CM21, CM16, and nearby Hoddesdon, Ware, Bishops Stortford.

How long does a tarmac path take in Harlow?

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

What approvals apply in Harlow?

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).

Other work in Harlow

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