Driveways in Bilston

Planning your driveway in Bilston

A new front driveway in Bilston usually needs no planning permission if it's permeable or drains onto your own land. A new or widened dropped kerb needs separate consent from City of Wolverhampton Council, as the highway authority.

Paving more than 5 m² of front garden needs planning permission unless the surface is permeable or drains to your own land.
Resin-bound surfacing is only permeable when it's laid on a permeable base.
Manhole covers can be raised, lowered or swapped for recessed trays to match the new level.

Postcode district: WV14
Planning and building control: City of Wolverhampton Council
From our West Bromwich base: 4 miles

Which option fits your home?

Permeable block paving

Blocks with wider joints filled with grit, laid on an open-graded stone sub-base that stores rainwater and lets it soak into the ground. Permeable paving meets the front garden rules without planning permission. It costs a little more because of the deeper, specially graded sub-base, and it suits clay soils only with extra design.

Gravel with ground grids

Gravel laid over plastic ground grids on a membrane and compacted sub-base. The grids stop the gravel moving into ruts, and the whole surface drains naturally, so it meets the front garden rules. Gravel is the most affordable surface, though it needs occasional raking and topping up, and it's less practical for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

How much should you budget in Bilston?

Prices in Bilston match the rest of our area: £2,200–£12,000 depending on size and specification. Block paving driveway of about 45 m² for two cars, with dig-out, sub-base, edging and drainage: usually £5,000–£7,200.

Guide prices for driveways
Option	Guide price	Good to know
Gravel or tarmac driveway	£2,200 – £4,800	About 40 m², new sub-base and edging
Block paving driveway	£4,500 – £7,500	About 40–50 m², with drainage or permeable build
Resin-bound driveway	£5,000 – £8,500	About 40–50 m², on a permeable base

Guide ranges include VAT where it applies. A free survey turns this guide into a fixed, itemised price.

Questions about driveways in Bilston

How much does a new driveway cost?

In the West Midlands, a typical 40–50 m² driveway usually costs around £2,200–£4,800 in gravel or tarmac, £4,500–£7,500 in block paving and £5,000–£8,500 in resin-bound, including dig-out, sub-base, edging and drainage. Larger areas, slopes, walls and extra drainage cost more. The council's dropped kerb charges are separate and vary by council.

How do I book a survey in Bilston?

Send the form on this page, use the guide-price tool or call 0800 088 6248 free. We'll ask a few questions about your driveway and arrange a time to visit.

Will I be able to park while the work is going on?

Not on the driveway itself for most of the job, so you'll need to park on the street or nearby. We'll need space for a skip or grab lorry and material deliveries, and we'll agree that with you in advance. We keep a safe path to your front door throughout.

Does City of Wolverhampton Council need to approve my driveway?

Only for a new or widened dropped kerb, which needs consent from City of Wolverhampton Council, or for a non-permeable surface over 5 m² that drains to the road, which needs planning permission from City of Wolverhampton Council.

Also covering nearby

Other work we do in Bilston

Levels, drainage and the kerb all get checked before we quote, so book a free driveway survey in Bilston.