New Driveway Cost in Wales: 2026 Price Guide

Converting a front garden into a driveway is one of the more popular smaller projects for homeowners across Wales, including in Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Wrexham - though it comes with a permission catch that surprises a lot of people.

Typical costs

• Gravel driveway: roughly £1,200-£2,500
• Block paving: roughly £3,000-£5,500
• Resin-bound or tarmac: roughly £3,500-£7,000

Prices depend heavily on the size of the space and whether an existing wall, hedge or step needs to be removed to create the drop kerb and access.

The permission most people miss

If your new driveway is larger than 5 square metres and uses a standard impermeable surface (regular block paving or tarmac laid without drainage), you typically need planning permission - unless the water drains to a permeable or porous area rather than the road. Permeable paving or gravel avoids this requirement in most cases, which is why it's the default recommendation for smaller front gardens. As above, planning permission and permitted development rights in Wales have been set separately from England since 2016, so always check the specific rules with your local council rather than assuming an England-based guide applies.

Separately, you'll need a licensed contractor to apply for a "drop kerb" from the council to lower the kerb and cross the pavement legally - this is a different process from planning permission and isn't optional even for a driveway that doesn't need planning permission itself.