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New driveway cost: what it really costs in 2026
Tarmac, resin and block paving per m².
£70 – £135 /m²
Tarmac starts around £70/m², resin about £75/m², and block paving £90–£135/m². A typical two-car driveway lands between £5,000 and £9,000.
Price by spec
| Option | What it means | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Tarmac | Cheapest hard-wearing option | £70 /m² |
| Resin-bound | Smooth, permeable, modern | £75 – £105 /m² |
| Block paving | Classic look, repairable | £90 – £135 /m² |
What actually happens
- Old surface broken out and carted away
- Ground dug to depth and edged
- Sub-base laid and compacted — the bit that decides lifespan
- Surface laid: tarmac rolled, resin troweled, or blocks laid and cut
- Edges finished and joints sanded or sealed
- Cured and opened to cars after a few days
Popular choices
Charcoal and silver resin blendsBlock borders with contrasting edgePermeable finishes (no drainage approval needed)
Regulations to know
- Over 5m² of impermeable surface draining to the road needs planning permission — permeable surfaces avoid this entirely
- A new or widened access onto the road needs a dropped kerb approved by the council
Tips from the trade
- The sub-base is where cheap quotes cut corners — ask what depth they're laying
- Resin needs a solid base beneath it; resin over weak tarmac fails early
Plan this project properly
Get a region-adjusted estimate, track budget against real quotes, and find local tradespeople -- free to browse on Qome.
Start planning on QomePrices on this page are approximate, region-adjusted guide figures built from cross-checked UK cost data. They exist to inform you, not to bind anyone. Actual prices are whatever you and your tradesperson agree, and a difference between a Qome guide figure and a real quote is not a fault in either.