Driveways in Cradley Heath: approvals and local details
A new front driveway in Cradley Heath 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 Sandwell Council, as the highway authority.
- Planning permission is usually needed for a new access onto a classified road.
- A driveway should finish well below the damp-proof course of the house.
- Manhole covers can be raised, lowered or swapped for recessed trays to match the new level.
- Postcode district
- B64
- Planning and building control
- Sandwell Council
- From our West Bromwich base
- 5 miles
Options to consider in Cradley Heath
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.
Resin-bound surfacing
Natural aggregate mixed with clear resin and trowelled smooth, giving a tidy, loose-free finish. Resin-bound is permeable only if it's laid on a permeable base such as porous asphalt; laid over solid concrete it isn't. It shouldn't be confused with resin-bonded, where stones are scattered onto a resin coat, which isn't permeable at all.
How much should you budget in Cradley Heath?
For a home in Cradley Heath, our guide range is £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.
| 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. Access, parking and the state of what's there now can move the price — the survey settles it.
Before you book in Cradley Heath
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.
How do I book a survey in Cradley Heath?
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.
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.
Will I need permission from the council in Cradley Heath?
Only for a new or widened dropped kerb, which needs consent from Sandwell Council, or for a non-permeable surface over 5 m² that drains to the road, which needs planning permission from Sandwell Council.
Driveways near Cradley Heath
Other work we do in Cradley Heath
- Fencing and gates in Cradley Heath
- Patios in Cradley Heath
- Plastering in Cradley Heath
- Double-storey extensions in Cradley Heath
- uPVC windows in Cradley Heath
- Kitchen makeovers in Cradley Heath
Want to see block, resin and gravel samples side by side? Call 0800 088 6248 and we'll bring them to Cradley Heath.