Gravel driveways
Stabilised and bound gravel drives for village houses, long rural entrances and conservation settings.
A stabilised gravel driveway typically costs £60–£100 per m² on a new sub-base, so a two-car drive of 40–50m² is usually £3,000–£5,000. It is permeable, so outside the Stamford conservation area it generally needs no planning permission, and bound gravel suits conservation settings where loose stone is not wanted.
- Per m²
- £60–£100
- Two-car drive (40–50m²)
- £3,000–£5,000
- Permeable
- Yes
- Time on site
- Two to four days
Our 2026 guide prices, all in. Your fixed price comes in writing after the site visit. Council fees checked October 2026.
Gravel that stays where it is put
Loose gravel on soil ruts, migrates onto the lawn and wears through to the membrane within a couple of winters. A stabilised drive holds the stone in honeycomb grid cells over a compacted, permeable sub-base, so it stays level and drains straight through.
Bound gravel, a resin-bonded gravel surface, gives the look of loose stone with a fixed surface, and it suits Stamford and village frontages where the council favours natural-looking finishes.
Long country drives are often best as a tarmac or bound gravel wheel track with loose gravel either side, which we price per job after the visit.
The kind of finish we build
Planning and dropped kerbs by council
A front driveway needs no planning permission if it is permeable or drains to your own lawn or border; more than 5m² of impermeable surface draining to the road does (Planning Portal guidance). In the Stamford conservation area the Article 4 direction brings any new road-facing hard surface under planning control. A new or wider entrance also needs a dropped kerb, and the rules depend on the highway authority.
| Highway authority | Towns | Dropped kerb fee | Who builds it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rutland County Council | Oakham, Uppingham, Ketton, Empingham, Cottesmore, Greetham, Langham, Whissendine, Ryhall, Edith Weston | £194 for the vehicle access permit | an accredited contractor under the council's permit (we can do it) |
| Lincolnshire County Council | Stamford | £300 for the council to build it, or £470 for a contractor | the county council, or an accredited contractor (we can do it) |
| Leicestershire County Council | Market Harborough, Great Bowden | £300 to apply (plus £240 if a contractor builds it) | the county council, or an accredited contractor (we can do it) |
| North Northamptonshire Council | Corby, Kettering, Weldon | £333 for the licence and inspection | an approved contractor (we can do it) |
Fees from each council's website, checked October 2026. See dropped kerbs for the process in each town.
Things people ask us
How much does a gravel driveway cost?
Do I need planning permission for a gravel drive?
Request a site visit
We measure up, check levels and drainage, and send a written proposal with the build-up, the programme and one whole price. No pressure and no follow-up sales calls.