A driveway is only as good as what is underneath it. Most of the driveways that fail - the ones that sink into ruts, sprout weeds through the joints, or crack up at the edges - were laid straight onto soft ground with barely a sub-base. We build driveways properly from the dig up, across Newmarket, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire, so they still look right years down the line.
Surfaces we lay
- Block paving - clay or concrete blocks, edged and compacted, in the pattern and colour you want.
- Resin-bound gravel - a smooth, permeable finish that lets rainwater through and needs little upkeep.
- Gravel and shingle - a cost-effective, well-draining option on a bound, edged base.
- Concrete and tarmac hardstanding - for driveways, parking areas and yards that take heavier use.
The sub-base is the job
Excavate to the right depth, remove the spoil, lay and compact a proper stone sub-base, set solid edge restraints, then lay the surface to fall. That sequence is what stops a driveway rutting, spreading and settling. It is the part you never see once the blocks are down, and it is the part we will not skimp on.
Drainage decides your planning position
Since 2008, where the rainwater from a new driveway drains is what decides whether you need planning permission. Keep it permeable, or drain it to a soakaway on your own land, and a driveway over five square metres normally stays within permitted development. Send it running off onto the public road and you may need an application. It is worth understanding before you start - our guide on planning permission for a new driveway covers the rule, permeable surfaces and the separate dropped-kerb application. We build permeable driveways and the drainage to match, so the surface and the paperwork line up.
Clear pricing
Driveway cost depends on size, the surface you choose, how much you are digging out and where the spoil goes. See our groundworks cost guide for how it is worked out, then let us price your actual job.
Thinking about a new drive near Newmarket or across Cambridgeshire? Get a free, no-obligation quote or call the number below.