Driveways in Lichfield

What should you know before starting in Lichfield?

A new front driveway in Lichfield 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 Staffordshire County Council, as the highway authority.

Planning permission is usually needed for a new access onto a classified road.
Paving more than 5 m² of front garden needs planning permission unless the surface is permeable or drains to your own land.
Before you drive across the pavement, you need the highway authority's consent for a dropped kerb.

Postcode district: WS13
Planning and building control: Lichfield District Council
From our West Bromwich base: 13 miles

Which options suit homes in Lichfield?

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.

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 Lichfield

Prices in Lichfield 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. We confirm a fixed price for the agreed specification after visiting.

Before you book in Lichfield

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.

How do I book a survey in Lichfield?

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.

Will I need permission from the council in Lichfield?

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 Lichfield District Council.

Driveways near Lichfield

Other work we do in Lichfield

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