Tarmac driveways in Southampton, laid hot and rolled
Tarmac is hard wearing, quick to lay and usually the lowest cost sealed surface. It goes down hot in a base and a surface course, on a compacted stone sub-base, with edging to hold the line and falls that take water away from the house.
- New drives and full resurfacing
- Edging in block, kerb or timber
- Falls and drainage planned on the survey
How a tarmac drive goes down
- Old surface broken out and the area excavated to depth
- Geotextile membrane and a crushed stone sub-base, compacted in layers
- Edging fixed first, so the hot tarmac has a firm line to finish against
- A binder course, then a finer surface course, raked and rolled while hot
- Edges sealed and falls checked so water runs away from the house
Tarmac has to be laid hot and rolled before it cools, so it needs a dry day and a crew that works in one go.
What a tarmac drive costs
Typical installed prices from the BestBuilders 2026 guide.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Tarmac or asphalt, per m² | £50 to £90 |
| Small drive, about 20 m² | £1,000 to £1,800 |
| Average drive, about 40 m² | £2,000 to £3,600 |
| Large drive, about 70 m² | £3,500 to £6,300 |
| Extra sub-base for soft ground, per m² | £15 to £35 |
Tarmac and the 5 m² rule
Standard tarmac is sealed
Ordinary tarmac does not let water through. A new front drive over 5 m² needs planning permission unless the rain runs to a lawn or border on your land, or into a soakaway.
Source: Planning Portal: paving your front gardenPorous asphalt is the exception
Porous asphalt on an open graded base lets water through, so it falls under the permeable rule. It costs more and suits some sites better than others.
Source: Planning Portal: paving your front gardenHeavy ground in the city
With clay under much of the north and south of Southampton, a soakaway is not always the answer. Falls to a border or a channel drain are often the simpler route.
Source: Southampton City Council: Level 2 Strategic Flood Risk Assessment, May 2017, section 4.1.3Tarmac driveway questions
How much does a tarmac drive cost in Southampton?
The BestBuilders 2026 guide gives typical installed prices of £50 to £90 per m² for tarmac or asphalt. An average 40 m² drive is typically £2,000 to £3,600.
Does a tarmac drive need planning permission?
Standard tarmac is a sealed surface. A front drive over 5 m² needs planning permission unless rain runs to a lawn or border on your land. Porous asphalt is permeable and needs no permission.
Can new tarmac go over an old drive?
Only if the old base is sound and the levels work, for example against door thresholds and the damp proof course. Where the old drive is breaking up, it is dug out and a new sub-base laid.
How soon can I drive on new tarmac?
You can usually walk on it the same day, but give it time before parking and avoid turning wheels on the spot while it hardens, especially in warm weather. You get specific advice on the day.
What edging does a tarmac drive need?
A firm edge, such as block, kerb or treated timber, fixed before the tarmac goes down. Without it, the edges of the drive crumble over time.
Is tarmac cheaper than block paving?
Usually. Typical installed prices in the BestBuilders 2026 guide are £50 to £90 per m² for tarmac against £90 to £150 per m² for concrete block paving.
Price your tarmac drive
Send the quick form with the rough size. Say if there is an old drive to break out and whether you need a dropped kerb too.