New Build Plots
Go from bare soil to a finished, compliant surface with sub-base, drainage, and material all planned together.
What Goes Wrong
Cutting corners on a bare plot costs more to fix than it saved to skip.
Block paving or tarmac laid directly onto Cambridge clay or compacted soil will sink and crack within two winters as the ground moves.
Excavation to formation level followed by a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base gives a stable platform that holds its level long term.
Flat Fenland plots with no planned falls leave standing water on the surface and can push water toward the garage apron or property threshold.
Drainage falls are set at survey stage; a channel drain or soakaway connection is specified before any surface course is chosen.
An impermeable surface over five square metres on a front garden requires Building Regulations compliance or a planning application, missing this can cause problems at resale.
The planning check happens at survey stage; permeable options such as resin bound aggregate or gravel avoid the requirement in most cases.
A surface laid too narrow for the plot makes daily parking awkward and opening car doors difficult, often requiring costly widening later.
Single-car width is 2.4 to 3 metres; two cars need at least 4.8 metres, measurements are confirmed at survey before edging is set.
Surface Options
Each surface type has different drainage, maintenance, and planning implications, the survey confirms which suits the plot.
Concrete or clay blocks on a compacted sub-base with kiln-dried sand joints; permeable block options available to meet SuDS requirements.
Porous resin bound surface on a tarmac base; SuDS compliant and avoids planning permission for most front garden areas over five square metres.
Tarmac base and wearing course on a prepared sub-base; fast to lay and low maintenance, with channel drain added for drainage compliance.
Loose gravel on a geotextile membrane with edge restraints; permeable by nature and straightforward to install on most new build plots.
Reinforced concrete slab on a compacted sub-base; suited to heavy use or garage access where a rigid, durable surface is needed.
Excavation to formation level, MOT Type 1 laid and compacted.
Falls set, channel drain or soakaway connection specified.
Edge restraints and kerb units set before surface is laid.
Apron level and transition to garage threshold checked at survey.
Liaison with the local authority where a dropped kerb is needed.
Why Choose Us
Accountability, local knowledge, and a clear process from first contact to finished surface.
We connect you with a local contractor who visits the plot, checks the ground, and quotes the full job in writing.
Excavation, sub-base, drainage, and surface are costed separately so you see exactly what each stage involves.
Cambridgeshire clay and Fenland soils are factored into sub-base depth and drainage specification from the outset.
The five-square-metre impermeable surfacing rule is reviewed before any material is selected, not after work begins.
The survey and quote are completed before any commitment, you decide on material, size, and drainage before a spade goes in.
The Process
01
Share the plot size, current surface, drainage situation, and any garage or access requirements you have in mind.
02
A local contractor visits, assesses ground conditions and drainage falls, and provides a full itemised written quote.
03
Excavation, sub-base, drainage, edging, and surface are completed in sequence and the finished area is handed over.
Pricing Estimates
| Job | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| New driveway, basic project | £2,768-£4,040 |
| New driveway, standard project | £4,346-£5,002 |
| New driveway, larger project | £5,500-£8,500 |
| Resin driveway installation | £7,213-£7,258 |
| Tarmac driveway installation | £4,676-£4,767 |
Describe the size, existing surface, and drainage and we’ll arrange a local contractor to survey and quote the full job.