Concrete Driveway Cost UK 2026: £60–£140/m² for Plain to Stamped
Concrete is the most durable mid-budget driveway material in the UK — 25–40 year lifespan, no joints to weed, takes any vehicle weight. This is what it actually costs to lay a concrete driveway in 2026, broken down by finish (plain, brushed, stamped, exposed aggregate), worked through three real project sizes, with the SuDS rules that came in 2008 and still trip up homeowners.
2026 UK Concrete Driveway Prices, By Finish Type
Concrete driveways span a wide price range because the finish does most of the work. The base concrete cost is similar across all finishes — what changes is the labour, additives and skill required for the surface.
| Finish | Cost per m² (2026) | Lifespan | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plain (broom) finish | £60–£80 | 25–30 yrs | Side-of-house, utility drives |
| Coloured concrete | £75–£100 | 25–30 yrs | Matching house tone, hiding tyre marks |
| Exposed aggregate | £85–£115 | 30–35 yrs | High-grip rural drives, gravel look |
| Stamped (pattern-imprinted) | £100–£140 | 30–40 yrs (sealed) | Front drives, kerb-appeal projects |
| Polished concrete | £120–£170 | 30+ yrs | Architectural/contemporary homes |
Prices include excavation, sub-base preparation, formwork, mesh reinforcement, mixed concrete delivered to site, finishing, expansion joints and curing. They exclude drop kerb, drainage runs and any decorative edging stones. London and the South East add 10–15% to the figures.
What a Quote for "Concrete Driveway, Supplied and Fitted" Should Cover
A cheap quote is usually a partial quote. Walk through each line item below with the contractor — if any are missing, the bill will balloon mid-project. These are the elements every honest concrete driveway quote should itemise.
✅ Excavation & spoil removal
Dig down 200–250mm, remove existing surface and topsoil. Skip hire and spoil disposal often invoiced separately — make sure it's in the quote not added later. £8–£14/m².
✅ Sub-base preparation
Type 1 MOT sub-base, 150mm compacted in 75mm layers using a wacker plate or roller. Skimping here is the #1 cause of cracked concrete drives within 5 years. £10–£14/m².
✅ Formwork + steel mesh
Timber shuttering to the perimeter and steel A142 or A193 mesh reinforcement laid over the sub-base. Mesh prevents shrinkage cracks. £6–£10/m².
✅ Concrete supply + pour
C25 or C30 ready-mix concrete delivered by truck, poured to 100–125mm depth. Pumped delivery adds £80–£200 for awkward access. £25–£35/m².
✅ Finish + expansion joints
Tamp, screed, and apply the finish before the concrete sets. Cut expansion joints every 3–4m to prevent thermal cracking. Plain broom finish £4–£8/m², stamped £20–£40/m².
✅ Curing + sealing
Cover with polythene for 7 days to slow water loss, then apply two coats of acrylic sealer once fully cured (28 days). Sealing prevents staining and freeze-thaw damage. £3–£6/m².
The SuDS Rule Every UK Homeowner Gets Wrong
Since October 2008, you've needed planning permission to lay an impermeable driveway over 5 m² that drains onto a public highway. Plain concrete is impermeable — which means most concrete driveways technically need permission unless they drain into a soakaway, lawn or permeable border. Three legitimate routes:
Route 1: Drainage into garden
Fall the concrete away from the road, into a soakaway or vegetated border. Permitted development if rainwater stays on your property. Most common solution — adds £80–£300 to the build.
Route 2: Permeable strips/borders
Concrete slab with gravel, resin-bound or block-paving permeable strips at the edges or in a grid pattern. Counts as permeable overall. Adds 5–10% to total cost.
Route 3: Formal planning consent
Submit a planning application (£206 in England) for a fully impermeable concrete drive that discharges to the highway. Often refused unless the council deems road drainage adequate.
For the full planning rules see our driveway planning permission guide. If you're comparing materials, our driveway materials comparison walks through concrete vs resin, block paving and tarmac side-by-side.
Three Worked Examples (Spring 2026)
Composite figures from BestBuilders quote data across spring 2026. All include the SuDS-compliant drainage detail.
£2,400 · 30 m² side drive (Sheffield)
Plain broom finish at £70/m². 200mm dig, 150mm Type 1 sub-base, A142 mesh, C25 concrete poured to 100mm, broom finish. Drainage falls to existing border. 4-day project.
£5,800 · 55 m² front drive (Worcester)
Coloured (charcoal) concrete at £92/m². Permeable resin-bound border strip 0.5m wide to comply with SuDS. C30 concrete poured to 125mm with A193 mesh. 6-day project.
£9,200 · 70 m² stamped drive (Reading)
Stamped slate-pattern finish at £125/m². Soakaway and channel drain to highway boundary. 200mm sub-base, C30 concrete poured to 125mm, two-colour stain plus two-coat acrylic sealer. 8-day project.