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About Cambridgeshire Driveways

We schedule a site survey, advice and a quote, before any work begins.

Driveways work in Cambridge

How We Work

Getting driveways specified and laid correctly across Cambridgeshire

The county’s ground varies considerably, and that variation matters before a single slab is laid.

Cambridgeshire Driveways exists to get driveways specified and laid correctly for property owners across Cambridge, Peterborough, Huntingdon, Ely and St Neots. The ground across the county varies more than most: chalk south of Cambridge, heavy clay around Huntingdon and St Neots, and peat and silt across the fens. A driveway laid straight onto unprepared fen peat without an adequate MOT Type 1 sub-base will sink within a couple of winters. Getting the specification right from the start, excavation depth, compaction, drainage falls, edge restraints, is what prevents that.

We schedule a site survey before any quote is issued. The survey assesses the existing surface, checks the sub-base condition, measures the falls and drainage, and confirms whether a dropped kerb application to Cambridgeshire County Council is needed. Material options, resin bound aggregate, block paving on a compacted sub-base with kiln-dried sand joints, tarmac base and wearing course, or gravel over a geotextile membrane, are explained at survey stage so the choice suits the ground, not just the budget.

Every quote covers excavation, sub-base, drainage and surface finish as separate line items. Where the driveway is over 5 square metres and the surface is non-permeable, SuDS compliance and planning requirements are checked as part of the assessment. Nothing is bundled into a single figure that obscures what the work actually involves.

To get started, tell us the size of the area, what is down there now, how it currently drains and whether the kerb needs dropping. We will schedule a site survey and a full written quote covering every stage of the job.

Our Mission

We exist to get driveways specified and laid correctly for property owners across Cambridgeshire, with the ground, drainage and finish assessed before any work begins.

  1. Transparency

    Quotes broken into excavation, sub-base, drainage and surface so nothing is hidden.

  2. Specificity

    Contractor matched to the ground type, chalk, clay or fen peat, at the property.

  3. Sequence

    Survey and ground assessment arranged before any quote is issued or work begins.

  4. Compliance

    Dropped kerb applications and SuDS requirements checked at the assessment stage.

The Process

From first enquiry to full written quote

Four straightforward steps, no commitment until you have seen the full itemised quote.

Request a Survey

  1. Describe the Job

    Tell us the area size, existing surface material, how it drains and whether the kerb needs dropping. The more detail you give, the better the survey fits your site.

  2. Survey Arranged

    We schedule a site visit. It assesses the sub-base condition, checks the falls and drainage, and confirms any dropped kerb or SuDS compliance requirements.

  3. Options Explained

    At survey stage the contractor explains which materials suit the ground, resin bound, block paving, tarmac or gravel, and why, based on what is actually under the existing surface.

  4. Itemised Quote Issued

    You receive a written quote with excavation, sub-base, drainage and surface finish as separate line items. No bundled totals, no hidden stages.

Common Questions

Questions about how Cambridgeshire Driveways works

  • Do you carry out the driveway work yourselves?

    No. Cambridgeshire Driveways takes your enquiry and schedules the site survey and the written quote. On-site installation is a separate step.

  • Is there a charge for the survey or quote?

    We do not charge for scheduling the survey. Survey terms are confirmed on contact. No work is committed until you have accepted a written quote.

  • Why does the ground type matter so much in Cambridgeshire?

    Chalk, clay and fen peat each behave differently under load. Peat compresses and shifts; clay expands and contracts with moisture. An assessment of the actual sub-base before quoting sets the correct excavation depth and compaction method for the conditions at your property.

  • What happens if I delay getting the driveway assessed?

    A failing sub-base gets worse with each winter frost and wet season. Block paving that has already sunk on a soft base will continue to drop, and water pooling at the kerb can undermine the base further. Early assessment limits the excavation depth and cost needed to correct it.

  • Do I need planning permission for a new driveway?

    Front driveways over 5 square metres using a non-permeable surface generally require planning permission. Permeable surfaces, resin bound aggregate, permeable block paving, are usually exempt. Dropped kerb access requires a separate application to Cambridgeshire County Council. The contractor checks both at survey stage.

  • What information should I have ready when I enquire?

    The approximate area in square metres, the existing surface material, how the driveway currently drains, and whether the kerb needs dropping. If you know the sub-base history, for example, if it was laid on bare hardcore, include that too.

At a glance

Business details

Full business details
Business name
Cambridgeshire Driveways
Contact
07787 475312 · contact@cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk
Areas covered
Cambridge and 11 more areas

Tell Us About Your Driveway

Describe the size, existing surface and drainage and we’ll schedule a survey and quote the full job.

Request a Survey