Tarmac paths and footpaths in Greater Manchester
From Manchester to the smaller towns in Greater Manchester, our tarmac paths quotes list the depths, edging, drainage and VAT so you can compare like with like.
How much does a tarmac path cost in Greater Manchester?
Rates in Greater Manchester follow the North West, about 3% below our UK midpoint.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tarmac garden path or footpath, hand-laid | £53–£87 per m² |
| Example: 10 m² path | £640–£1,050 |
| Example: 20 m² path | £1,150–£1,900 |
| Example: 40 m² path | £2,150–£3,500 |
Towns we cover in Greater Manchester
- Manchester
- Oldham
- Wigan
- Bolton
- Stockport
- Salford
- Rochdale
- Sale
- Bury
- Altrincham
- Middleton
- Ashton-under-Lyne
- Leigh
- Stretford
- Urmston
- Chadderton
- Eccles
- Tyldesley
- Hyde
- Walkden
- Prestwich
- Radcliffe
- Cheadle Hulme
- Heywood
- Denton
- Stalybridge
- Ashton-in-Makerfield
- Westhoughton
- Farnworth
- Saddleworth
- Hindley
- Golborne
- Droylsden
- Whitefield
- Swinton
- Royton
- Atherton
- Dukinfield
- Failsworth
- Hazel Grove
- Irlam
- Horwich
- Bramhall
- Ramsbottom
- Bredbury
- Hale
- Longsight
Postcode areas: BL, M, OL, SK, WA, WN.
What is included?
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
- 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
Rules in Greater Manchester
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.
How it is built
Tarmac paths and footpaths in Greater Manchester: questions
How much does a tarmac path cost in Greater Manchester?
As a 2026 guide, about £53–£87 per m² inc VAT in Greater Manchester. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Greater Manchester do you cover?
Manchester, Oldham, Wigan, Bolton, Stockport, Salford, Rochdale, Sale and more.
How long does a tarmac path take?
Often 1–2 days.
How much does a tarmac path cost?
As a 2026 guide, about £55–£90 per m² including VAT for a hand-laid path with a new base and edging. Short, narrow paths sit at the top of the range because of set-up time.
Other services in Greater Manchester
Get a written tarmac quote
Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED