--- title: "Driveways in Cambridge: Expert Installation & Repair" description: "Driveway installation, resurfacing and repair in Cambridge. Block paving, resin, tarmac, gravel and permeable surfaces. Free surveys." canonical: "https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/" lastmod: "2026-10-05T11:37:59.461Z" --- # Driveways in Cambridge ![Driveways work in Cambridge](https://utmost-ibex-736.convex.cloud/api/storage/8825af63-4a2e-44a0-9389-464e14ba9b87) A stable, draining surface on the right sub-base, quoted in full before any work begins. - **Survey First**: Ground, drainage and falls are assessed before any commitment. - **Full Written Quote**: Excavation, sub-base, drainage and surface quoted as separate line items. - **Matched to Your Ground**: Contractor selected for Cambridge clay, chalk or fen peat conditions. ## Every driveway surface type, quoted from the ground up From resin bound to block paving, the right surface depends on what is underneath it, and that starts with a site survey. - **Driveways**: Compare block paving, resin, tarmac & gravel, with sub-base & drainage included in every quote. - **[Resin Bound Driveways](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/resin-bound-driveways)**: Permeable UV-stable surface laid over a sound tarmac or concrete base, no planning permission needed in most cases. - **[Block Paving Driveways](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/block-paving-driveways)**: Concrete blocks or clay pavers on a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, with kiln-dried sand joints and edge restraints. - **[Tarmac Driveways](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/tarmac-driveways)**: Bitumen binder course and wearing course on a compacted sub-base, typically ready for use within 24 hours of laying. - **[Gravel Driveways](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/gravel-driveways)**: Shingle aggregate over a compacted sub-base and geotextile membrane, with edging to prevent scatter and sinking. - **[Permeable Driveways](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/permeable-driveways)**: Water drains through the surface into a sub-base and soakaway, no planning permission needed for most front drives. - **[Driveway Resurfacing](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/driveway-resurfacing)**: Asphalt, concrete, or resin bound overlay on a sound existing base, lower disruption than full replacement. - **[Driveway Repairs & Restoration](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/driveway-repairs-restoration)**: Sunken blocks, cracked tarmac, and pooling water fixed by addressing the sub-base cause, not just the surface. - **[Driveway Drainage & Channel Drains](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/driveway-drainage-channel-drains)**: Channel drain set in concrete bedding, graded to fall, and connected to a 110mm pipe or soakaway. - **[Dropped Kerbs & Access](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/dropped-kerbs-access)**: Highway consent under Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980 must be obtained before any kerb lowering begins. - **[Driveway Extensions & Widening](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/driveway-extensions-widening)**: Extra parking width matched to your existing surface, with drainage falls and edge restraints set correctly. - **[Driveway Edging & Kerbing](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/driveway-edging-kerbing)**: Concrete, stone, or metal edge restraints haunched in place to hold the driveway surface and prevent spread. - **[New Build Driveway Installation](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/new-build-driveway-installation)**: Surface installation on bare or temporary-surfaced new build plots, covering sub-base, drainage, and planning compliance. - **Excavation & Sub-base Preparation**: Ground dug out and compacted MOT Type 1 laid to the correct depth. - **Drainage Falls Assessment**: Surface falls checked at survey stage so water runs clear of the threshold. - **Surface Material Selection**: Resin bound, block paving, tarmac or gravel matched to site conditions. - **Edge Restraints & Kerbing**: Concrete-haunched edging set to level to prevent surface spread. - **Geotextile Membrane**: Weed-suppression membrane under gravel and permeable surfaces. - **Dropped Kerb Application**: Section 184 highway consent checked and submitted before access work starts. - **SuDS Compliance Check**: Permeable surface options assessed against surface water drainage rules. - **Soakaway Design**: Soakaway sized for Cambridge clay’s limited natural percolation rate. ## The problems that follow a rushed or underspecified driveway Most driveway failures trace back to decisions made before the first block was laid, or skipped entirely. - **Sinking Surface**: A driveway laid onto Cambridge clay or fen peat without a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base will sink within a couple of winters. **Sub-base Survey First**: The survey establishes excavation depth and sub-base specification before any surface material is chosen or priced. - **Pooling Water**: Standing water after rain usually means the surface falls are wrong or the channel drain is blocked, lifted, or connected incorrectly. **Falls Checked at Survey**: Drainage falls and channel drain connections are assessed at survey stage, not discovered once the surface is already down. - **Quote That Grows**: A quote covering only the surface layer leaves excavation, sub-base, drainage and edging as surprises once work starts. **Itemised Written Quote**: Every quote covers excavation, sub-base, drainage and surface finish as separate line items, no hidden groundwork costs. - **Patch Repair Fails Again**: Resurfacing over a compromised base or unresolved drainage fault means the same cracking or sinking returns within a season. **Base Condition Check**: A base condition survey confirms whether an overlay is viable or full excavation is needed before any material is committed to. ## Why Cambridgeshire Driveways? The ground beneath a Cambridge driveway varies more than most, the process is built around that fact. - **Survey Before Any Commitment**: A site visit assesses ground conditions, drainage and falls before a quote is issued. - **Contractor Matched to the Ground**: Each site is assessed for its specific conditions. Clay, chalk or fen peat each need a different approach. - **No Hidden Groundwork Costs**: Excavation, sub-base, drainage and surface finish are quoted as separate line items so nothing is added mid-job. - **Material Options Explained on Site**: Resin bound, block paving, tarmac and gravel are assessed against the site conditions at survey stage, not sold in advance. - **Dropped Kerb & SuDS Checked Early**: Highway consent requirements and surface water drainage compliance are confirmed at the initial assessment where relevant. ## Three steps from enquiry to a full written quote 1. **Tell Us About the Job**: Describe the size, existing surface, drainage situation and whether a dropped kerb is needed. 2. **Survey Is Arranged**: A site visit assesses the ground, checks drainage falls, and confirms excavation requirements. 3. **Receive Your Full Quote**: A written quote covers excavation, sub-base, drainage and surface finish as separate line items. [Request a Survey](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/contact) ## Driveway work arranged for all property types Whether the plot is a Victorian terrace or a new build, the process starts with the same site survey. - **Homeowners**: Homeowners in Cambridge dealing with cracking, sinking or pooling water on an existing driveway, or wanting a new surface on a front garden plot. We schedule a ground survey, explain the material options, and quote the full job: excavation, sub-base, drainage and surface, before any work is committed to. - **Property Developers**: Developers finishing new build plots across Cambridgeshire that are handed over with bare soil or a temporary surface. We schedule surveys covering sub-base compaction, drainage planning, surface selection and compliance with the five-square-metre impermeable surfacing rule as part of the same job. - **Landlords**: Landlords managing rental properties where a worn or failing driveway surface is affecting the kerb appeal or causing drainage problems near the threshold. We arrange a survey and a clear written quote so the scope and cost are confirmed before any work starts. - **Commercial Properties**: Commercial property owners needing a hardstanding or access surface that handles regular vehicle use without rutting or sinking. We schedule surveys that specify sub-base depth and surface type for heavier loads, with drainage falls set correctly from the outset. ## Understanding your driveway options before work starts Cracking, sinking and pooling water are symptoms, the cause is usually in the ground beneath the surface. Cracks, sunken patches and water that sits on the surface after rain all point to the same underlying issue: the sub-base has moved, settled, or was never prepared correctly for the ground beneath it. On Cambridge clay, ground movement is common, and a surface laid without a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base will show these symptoms within a few years. Before deciding between a repair and a full replacement, a base condition check confirms whether the existing groundwork is structurally sound. If it is, resurfacing with asphalt, concrete or resin bound aggregate is a viable lower-disruption option. If the base has shifted or the drainage falls are wrong, laying a new surface over the top means the same problems return within a season. When a full installation is the right call, the work breaks into four stages: excavation to the correct depth for the ground type, compaction of a MOT Type 1 sub-base, drainage fall and channel drain installation, and then the surface course itself. The surface choice, resin bound aggregate, block paving, tarmac or gravel, depends on the drainage requirements, the daily use, and the planning context. Resin bound and gravel surfaces are permeable, so rainwater passes through rather than running off. That matters because impermeable surfaces over domestic front gardens larger than five square metres must comply with Building Regulations surface water drainage requirements. Permeable surfaces avoid that requirement in most cases, and also avoid the need for a planning application on most front drives. Dropped kerb access is a separate regulatory step that needs to be sorted before any driveway work begins at the highway boundary. Cambridgeshire County Council issues highway consent under Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980, checks for underground services, and specifies the crossing width required. Submitting the application after the driveway is already laid adds weeks to the timeline and can mean the access point is in the wrong position. If the property is in a Cambridge Conservation Area, additional planning permission may also be required before any changes to the front garden surface are made. A site survey covers all of these checks before any material is selected or any work is committed to. [Request a Survey](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/contact) ## Typical Driveways Prices | Job | Typical cost | | --- | --- | | Gravel driveway | From £60 per m² | | Tarmac driveway | £80-£100 per m² | | Block paving driveway | From £100 per m² | | Resin bound driveway | From £120 per m² | | Driveway extension | £100-£250 per m² | These prices are estimates and often vary with the condition, size and scope of each job. Message or call us for a free, no-obligation quote. [See all prices](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/pricing) ## Driveways Specified for Cambridgeshire Ground Cambridgeshire ground varies more than most: chalk south of Cambridge, heavy clay around Huntingdon, and peat across the fens where an unprepared base sinks within a couple of winters. Every site has its base and drainage assessed before the quote covers excavation, sub-base and surface as separate lines. ### 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. - **Transparency**: Quotes broken into excavation, sub-base, drainage and surface so nothing is hidden. - **Specificity**: Contractor matched to the ground type, chalk, clay or fen peat, at the property. - **Sequence**: Survey and ground assessment arranged before any quote is issued or work begins. - **Compliance**: Dropped kerb applications and SuDS requirements checked at the assessment stage. ## Driveways in Cambridge We schedule site surveys across the county, matched to the ground conditions at your postcode. - **[Cambridge](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/)**: Driveway surfaces suited to Cambridge clay & gravel ground - **[Peterborough](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/peterborough-cambridgeshire)**: Driveway installation across Peterborough’s estates & terraces. - **[Huntingdon](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/huntingdon-cambridgeshire)**: Driveways for family homes & estate roads in Huntingdon. - **[Ely](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/ely-cambridgeshire)**: Driveway installs for Ely’s clay & floodplain ground - **[St Neots](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/st-neots-cambridgeshire)**: Driveway installs for St Neots riverside & estate homes - **[St Ives](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/st-ives-cambridgeshire)**: Driveways on river terrace & clay ground in St Ives - **[March](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/march-cambridgeshire)**: Driveway surfacing for PE15 homes on Fenland ground. - **[Wisbech](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/wisbech-cambridgeshire)**: Driveway fitting for Wisbech’s soft Fenland ground - **[Cambourne](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/cambourne-cambridgeshire)**: Driveway installations across Cambourne’s new-build estates - **[Chatteris](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/chatteris-cambridgeshire)**: Driveway installs on flat Fenland plots in Chatteris. - **[Whittlesey](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/whittlesey-cambridgeshire)**: Fenland clay sub-bases & permeable surfaces in Whittlesey - **[Soham](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/areas/soham-cambridgeshire)**: Driveway installs on flat, clay-heavy Fenland plots. ### Get a Quote Near You Tell us your postcode and the size of the job and we’ll schedule a survey and quote. [Request a Survey](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/contact) ## Questions about driveways in Cambridge ### How do I know if I need a new driveway or just a repair? Isolated cracks or a single sunken area usually point to a repair. If more than a third of the surface is cracked, crumbling, or uneven, replacement is more cost-effective than patching. A site survey will confirm which option makes sense once the sub-base condition is checked. ### Why is water pooling on my driveway? Pooling water means the surface has no fall toward a drain, the drainage channel is blocked, or the sub-base has settled unevenly. Left alone, standing water works into the base layer, accelerates cracking, and can undermine the edging. A drainage assessment during the survey will identify the cause. See [Driveway Drainage & Channel Drains](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/services/driveway-drainage-channel-drains) for more. ### What does a new driveway actually cost? Most driveway installations in Cambridge come in at around £60 per m², depending on size, chosen surface, and whether excavation, drainage, or a dropped kerb is needed. A full quote covering all those elements is arranged after a site survey. ### What changes the price of a driveway quote? The biggest factors are overall area, depth of excavation needed, sub-base condition, surface material, and drainage requirements. A sloping plot or a shared-access arrangement adds complexity. Kerb work and edging are quoted separately if required. ### What is included in a driveway quote? A full quote covers excavation, sub-base preparation, drainage provision, the chosen surface material, and edging. Dropped kerb work or drainage channels are included if they form part of the scope. Nothing is added after the survey without your agreement. ### Is a cheaper driveway always the better choice? Not always. A lower price often reflects a thinner sub-base or cheaper aggregate, which shortens the lifespan and raises maintenance costs. A correctly built driveway with adequate depth and drainage costs more upfront but avoids resurfacing within a few years. ### Will this driveway suit my house and look neat with it? Surface choice, colour, and edging detail all affect how the finished driveway sits with the property. Block paving and resin bound surfaces offer the widest range of colours and patterns. Tarmac and gravel are plainer but can be finished with brick or stone edging to complement the house. ### Will it cope with everyday parking and bad weather? Any surface laid on a correctly compacted sub-base handles standard car and van loads. Tarmac and block paving are well suited to repeated loading and freeze-thaw cycles. Resin bound surfaces are UV-stable and drain freely. The sub-base depth is the main factor in long-term performance. [More questions?](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/faq) ## Tell Us About Your Driveway Describe the size, existing surface and drainage and we’ll schedule a site survey and a full written quote. [Request a Survey](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/contact) ## Business details ### Contact - **Phone**: [07787 475312](tel:07787475312) - **Email**: [contact@cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk](mailto:contact@cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk) - **Based in**: Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB1 - **Enquiries**: [Send an enquiry](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/contact) — We ask for your name, phone number, email and a message. ### Opening hours - **Monday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Tuesday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Wednesday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Thursday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Friday**: 08:00 – 18:00 - **Saturday**: 10:00 – 16:00 - **Sunday**: 10:00 – 16:00 [Business details](https://www.cambridgeshiredriveways.co.uk/about/business.md)