New Drives, Widening & Extensions
Block Paving Driveways: Design, Groundwork & Installation
Free site visit · Itemised written quote · No obligation
What's included
Planning a New Block Paving Driveway
Most people who call us want one of three things. Some have no off-road parking at all, often on the older Milton Keynes estates where homes were built around shared parking courts. Some have a drive that's too narrow for two cars and want it widened. And some have an old drive that's past saving and want it replaced. In every case the job is the same at heart: a block paving driveway that stays flat, drains properly and looks right with the house.
A new drive is mostly groundwork. We take out the old surface and the soft soil underneath, lay and compact a crushed-stone sub-base in layers, set the edges in concrete and build in falls so rainwater runs away from your walls. Only then do the blocks go down. It's the reason a well-built block paved drive lasts twenty-five years and a rushed one dips within two.
Where we work
Covering Milton Keynes and Surrounding Towns
We lay block paving driveways in every part of Milton Keynes and the towns within about 20 miles:
What's included
What's Included in a New Drive
Dig-out and muck-away
The old surface, topsoil and soft ground are excavated and taken away. Skip or grab-lorry hire is included in the price.
Compacted sub-base
Crushed stone (MOT Type 1) is laid in layers and compacted with a plate compactor. Its depth is set by your ground, typically deeper on soft clay.
Edge restraints
Kerbs or edging blocks are bedded and haunched in concrete, so the paving can't creep outwards over time.
Drainage
Falls are set to carry water away from the house, with channel drains across the drive or a soakaway where they're needed.
Block, colour and pattern
Concrete, tumbled or clay block, in herringbone, stretcher bond or basket weave, with an optional contrasting border.
Widening and extensions
New paving tied into your existing drive. We match the block where it's still made, or add a deliberate border where it isn't.
Prices
How Much Does a Block Paving Driveway Cost?
Most of the price is set by the area and the amount of excavation. A drive on firm ground that only needs the old surface lifting costs less per square metre than a front lawn that needs digging out from scratch. Block choice matters too: standard concrete block is the most affordable, while tumbled, premium and clay blocks cost more. These are typical Milton Keynes prices:
| Option | What's included | Typical time | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| New drive (per m²) | Dig-out, sub-base, edging, laying course, blocks, jointing | — | £80 – £130 per m² |
| Relay on a sound existing base (per m²) | Lift, re-level, relay, re-joint | — | £45 – £70 per m² |
| 1-car drive (about 30 m²) | Full new drive | 2–3 days | £2,400 – £3,900 |
| 2-car drive (about 50 m²) | Full new drive | 3–5 days | £4,000 – £6,500 |
| Large drive (about 80 m²) | Full new drive with drainage | 5–7 days | £6,400 – £10,400 |
| Channel drain | Supplied and fitted across the drive | added to the job | from £300 |
Indicative prices for standard concrete block. Your exact figure is confirmed in writing after a free site visit.
What pushes the price up or down?
- Excavation depth. Lawns and soft clay need more digging and more sub-base than an old drive on firm ground.
- Access. If a grab lorry can't get near, spoil has to be barrowed out, which takes longer.
- Block choice. Premium, tumbled and clay blocks cost more per square metre than standard concrete.
- Pattern. Herringbone needs more cutting than stretcher bond, especially on curves.
- Drainage. Channel drains or a soakaway add cost, but they're often essential on a drive that falls towards the house.
- Steps, walls and kerbs. Any building work around the drive is priced separately on your quote.
Blocks and patterns
Choosing Your Block, Colour and Pattern
Concrete block is hard-wearing, affordable and comes in dozens of colours, from charcoal and brindle to buff and red. Tumbled blocks have softened edges for a more aged, cottage look that suits older houses in towns like Olney and Stony Stratford. Clay pavers keep their colour longest but cost the most. As for pattern, herringbone is the strongest choice for drives because the blocks interlock under turning wheels. Stretcher bond suits narrow drives and paths, and basket weave works best on smaller areas. A contrasting border or a single course of a darker block frames the drive neatly. We'll bring samples to your site visit.
Planning rules
Front Gardens and the Permeable Paving Rule
If you're paving over a front garden in England, the rules changed in 2008. A new hard surface over 5 m² needs planning permission unless it's permeable or the rainwater runs onto a lawn or border within your property. There are two ways to stay within the rule. Permeable block paving has wider joints filled with fine grit and an open-graded sub-base that lets water soak away. Alternatively, standard block paving can be laid to fall towards a soakaway or planted border. We'll explain which suits your drive at the site visit. This is general guidance, so check with Milton Keynes City Council or your local council if your home is listed or in a conservation area.
Get a Price for Your New Drive
Block paving
How We Build Your Drive
Free site visit
We measure, check levels and drainage, look at access for machinery and talk through how you'll use the space.
Itemised quote and samples
You get a written quote with each stage priced, plus the blocks and patterns that suit your house.
Groundwork
Dig-out, sub-base, edging and drainage. This is the longest part of the job and the most important.
Laying and handover
The blocks are laid, cut, jointed and compacted, the site is cleared, and we walk the finished drive with you.
FAQs
Block Paving Driveway FAQs
How long does a new drive take?
A typical two-car drive takes three to five days. A large drive, or one with drainage, walls or steps, can take a week or more. Rain can pause the groundwork, so we keep you updated.
When can I park on it?
Usually as soon as it's finished. Block paving doesn't need curing time like concrete or resin, because the blocks are locked in by compaction.
Do I need a dropped kerb?
If you're creating a new drive where there isn't one, you'll probably need a dropped kerb to drive across the pavement legally. You apply to Milton Keynes City Council (or your own council), and the pavement works are carried out by the council or a contractor it approves. We don't carry out highway works, but we'll plan your drive around the crossing.
Is permeable block paving more expensive?
Usually a little, because the sub-base uses a different, open-graded stone and the jointing grit costs more than sand. It can save on drainage, though, and it keeps a front-garden drive within the planning rules.
Also available