Driveways in Dudley

What should you know before starting in Dudley?

For driveways in Dudley, the rules that matter are drainage and access. Permeable paving or a soakaway avoids a planning application, and any change to the kerb goes through Dudley Council.

Permeable surfaces in Dudley help reduce surface water running onto the road.
Planning permission is usually needed for a new access onto a classified road.
Fresh tarmac and resin need time to harden before cars drive on them.

Postcode district: DY1
Planning and building control: Dudley Council
From our West Bromwich base: About 4 miles to the centre

Choices to weigh up in Dudley

Tarmac

Hot-laid asphalt over a compacted sub-base, finished with a roller and edged with kerbs or setts. Tarmac is quick to lay and good value for larger areas. Standard tarmac is impermeable, so on a front garden it needs to drain to a soakaway or border, or use a porous asphalt mix.

Block paving

Concrete blocks laid in a pattern on a sand bed over a compacted stone sub-base, held in by edging kerbs. Blocks come in many colours and sizes, and single blocks can be lifted and relaid if a drain needs work. Standard block paving needs drainage planning, because the sand joints alone don't usually let enough water through.

How much should you budget in Dudley?

Guide prices start at £2,200 and run to £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: around £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. Your fixed price for the agreed specification follows a free survey at your Dudley address.

Your questions answered

Which driveway surface is best?

It depends on budget, looks and drainage. Block paving is hard-wearing and repairable; resin-bound is smooth, tidy and permeable on the right base; tarmac is good value for larger areas; gravel is the cheapest and drains naturally. A permeable option avoids the need for planning permission on a front garden. We'll show you samples at survey.

Do you cover the whole of Dudley?

Yes — we cover Dudley from our West Bromwich base, including Sandwell, Wolverhampton and Walsall. Call 0800 088 6248 or send the form on this page to book a free survey.

What guarantee comes with a new driveway?

The materials, such as blocks, resin and drainage channels, come with their manufacturers' guarantees, and the terms for your driveway are set out in your quote. How long a driveway stays level depends largely on the sub-base, so we name its depth and type in your specification. Keep your quote and paperwork with your house documents.

Does Dudley Council need to approve my driveway?

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

Driveways across Dudley

Choose your town for local details and postcodes:

Close to Dudley

Other work we do in Dudley

Email sales@skjhomeimprovements.co.uk with your address in Dudley and roughly how many cars you need to park.