Tarmac paths and footpaths in St Albans

Tarmac path prices in St Albans

Guide prices below are for St Albans, 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 St Albans, 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.

Do I need permission in St Albans?

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.

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.

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
Binder and surface course laid hot by hand and rolled
Gentle cross-fall so water runs off to the border

How it is built

Where we work in and around St Albans

The key facts for St Albans. As one of the larger towns in Hertfordshire, St Albans sees regular survey visits.

Postcodes: AL1, AL2, AL4
Area: Hertfordshire
Nearest towns: Harpenden (5 miles), Hatfield (5 miles), Hemel Hempstead (5 miles), Welwyn Garden City (6 miles)
Pricing: East of England, about 5% above our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The highway authority

The same service is available in Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead, Welwyn Garden City, Borehamwood.

Your questions answered

Do you cover all of St Albans?

We cover St Albans including AL1, AL2, AL4, and nearby Harpenden, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead.

How long will the work take at my St Albans property?

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

Can I get a free survey in St Albans?

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.

Are there planning or highway rules in St Albans?

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).

Also in St Albans

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