How much does a new driveway cost in Nottingham? (2026)

Typical driveway costs by surface

As a rough guide for Nottingham, block paving runs around £70–£120 per m² supplied and laid, resin-bound roughly £40–£70 per m², and tarmac about £45–£75 per m². Gravel is the cheapest at around £40–£60 per m² but needs edging and occasional topping up.

For a typical small-to-medium drive of around 40m², that puts block paving in the region of £3,500–£6,500, resin around £2,500–£4,500, and tarmac £2,500–£4,500. Larger or more complex drives cost proportionally more.

A big chunk of any quote is groundwork you don't see — excavation, a proper sub-base, edging and drainage. Skimping on the sub-base is the usual reason a cheap drive sinks or cracks within a few years.

What drives the price

The surface and material grade — premium blocks or coloured resin cost more than standard — plus how much existing surface has to be dug up and carted away.

Drainage requirements: since rules on surface water tightened, many drives need permeable materials or a soakaway, which adds cost but avoids needing planning permission.

Access for machinery and skips, ground conditions, and extras like a dropped kerb (a separate council-approved job) or steps and retaining walls on a sloping plot.

How to avoid overpaying

Be wary of cold-callers offering a cheap drive with "leftover materials" — it's a classic source of overpaying and poor work. Always get the job quoted properly by a couple of reviewed local firms instead, and never pay large sums up front.

Ask each quote to spell out the sub-base depth, the edging, and the drainage solution, so you're comparing like for like. Posting the job on Rank My Builder gets it in front of verified local landscapers with reviews you can check.

FAQs