Service
Block paving driveways
Block paving driveways laid on a proper sub-base, with the edge restraints and falls done right.
In short
What does Gardenscape mean by block paving driveways?
Block paving driveways laid on a proper sub-base, with the edge restraints and falls done right.
Block paving, hard-wearing and repairable
Block paving is the traditional, hard-wearing driveway surface, and one of its quiet advantages is that a single damaged section can be lifted and relaid rather than the whole drive being redone. Laid properly, it handles the weight of vehicles for decades and suits a wide range of homes.
The sub-base and the restraints
A block-paved driveway lives or dies on the groundwork. We excavate to firm ground and build a sub-base sized for the loads, because blocks laid on a weak base rut and sink. Just as important are the edge restraints: blocks need to be held firmly at the edges or they creep and the whole surface loosens over time. We set the restraints, the laying course and the jointing properly so the drive stays tight and true.
Permeable options
Block paving can be laid as a permeable system, with the right blocks and a permeable build-up, so it drains on site and stays within permitted development without an application. Where that suits the job we will recommend it.
Built to last
We lay block paving on a base built for the ground, with the falls set to carry water away. On the clay vale around Chippenham that base and drainage matter most. Arrange a consultation and we will talk you through the surface for your driveway.
Sibling disciplines
Also within this craft
- 01
Resin-bound driveways
Permeable resin-bound driveways laid on a sound base: SuDS-friendly and, on most homes, no planning needed.
Read - 02
Resin-bonded driveways
Resin-bonded (scatter-coat) surfacing: a textured, non-permeable finish, and how it differs from resin-bound.
Read - 03
Gravel driveways
Gravel driveways done properly, on a stabilised, well-drained base that stays put.
Read
Cost context
Indicative ranges
Figures are relative, not quotations. Each scheme is priced after a survey of access, levels, drainage and finish standard.
| What changes the cost |
|---|
| sub-base depth |
| edge restraints |
| laying course |
| jointing |
Source: Gardenscape. Figures as of 2026-06-03.
Recent work
Projects in this discipline
Tom Windle of Gardenscape shows how to lay clay pavers for a hard-wearing driveway or path.
Common questions
Common questions
Almost always a weak sub-base or missing edge restraints. Blocks need a properly built base and firm edges, or they rut, creep and loosen. We build both properly, which is what keeps the drive tight.
Yes, and it is one of the advantages of block paving. Individual blocks or a section can be lifted and relaid, rather than redoing the whole driveway.
Yes. With the right blocks and a permeable build-up it drains on site, which keeps it within permitted development without a planning application. We recommend it where it suits the job.
Laid on a proper base with sound restraints, decades. The groundwork is what decides it, far more than the blocks on top.
Arrange a consultation
Send a few photographs and a sentence about the site. We will reply personally.