What should you know before starting in Hodge Hill?
A new front driveway in Hodge Hill 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 Birmingham City Council, as the highway authority.
- 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.
- Paving more than 5 m² of front garden needs planning permission unless the surface is permeable or drains to your own land.
- Postcode district
- B8
- Planning and building control
- Birmingham City Council
- From our West Bromwich base
- 6 miles
Choices to weigh up in Hodge Hill
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 Hodge Hill?
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.
| 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. We confirm a fixed price for the agreed specification after visiting.
Questions about driveways in Hodge Hill
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 Hodge Hill?
Yes. Hodge Hill (B8) is about 6 miles from our West Bromwich base and inside the area we cover. Call 0800 088 6248 or send the form on this page to book a free survey.
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 Hodge Hill?
Only for a new or widened dropped kerb, which needs consent from Birmingham City Council, or for a non-permeable surface over 5 m² that drains to the road, which needs planning permission from Birmingham City Council.
Close to Hodge Hill
Other home improvements in Hodge Hill
- Rendering in Hodge Hill
- Patios in Hodge Hill
- Painting and decorating in Hodge Hill
- Fascias, soffits and guttering in Hodge Hill
- Knock-through walls in Hodge Hill
- Bi-fold and patio doors in Hodge Hill
Levels, drainage and the kerb all get checked before we quote, so book a free driveway survey in Hodge Hill.