Driveways in Heath Hayes: approvals and local details
For driveways in Heath Hayes, 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 Staffordshire County Council.
- Paving more than 5 m² of front garden needs planning permission unless the surface is permeable or drains to your own land.
- A driveway should finish well below the damp-proof course of the house.
- Before you drive across the pavement, you need the highway authority's consent for a dropped kerb.
- Postcode district
- WS12
- Planning and building control
- Cannock Chase District Council
- From our West Bromwich base
- 13 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.
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.
Guide prices for Heath Hayes
Prices in Heath Hayes 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.
| 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.
Your questions answered
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 Heath Hayes?
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 long does it take to build a driveway?
Most front driveways take three to seven days on site, depending on size, dig-out depth and the surface. Block paving takes longest because of cutting and jointing. Resin-bound needs time to cure and fresh tarmac needs to harden, so you may have to wait a day or two before driving on it.
Does Cannock Chase District Council need to approve my driveway?
Only for a new or widened dropped kerb, which needs consent from Staffordshire County Council, or for a non-permeable surface over 5 m² that drains to the road, which needs planning permission from Cannock Chase District Council.
Nearby places we cover
Other home improvements in Heath Hayes
- Rendering in Heath Hayes
- Painting and decorating in Heath Hayes
- Fencing and gates in Heath Hayes
- Garage conversions in Heath Hayes
- Single-storey extensions in Heath Hayes
- Kitchen makeovers in Heath Hayes
Want to see block, resin and gravel samples side by side? Call 0800 088 6248 and we'll bring them to Heath Hayes.