Permeable driveways in Corby
Permeable driveways in Corby that let rain soak away, so no planning application is needed for the front garden.
As a guide, a permeable resin bound driveway costs £150–£220 per m², permeable block paving £140–£210 per m² and stabilised gravel £60–£100 per m², all in. On heavy clay a lined system with a controlled outlet adds to that. A new or replacement front driveway needs no planning permission if it is permeable, or if the water drains to a lawn or border on your own land.
- Permeable block
- £140–£210 per m²
- Planning
- Not needed for a permeable front drive
- Ground
- Ironstone, with clay and restored ground
- Guarantee
- 5 years, in writing
Our 2026 guide prices, all in. Your fixed price comes in writing after the site visit. Council fees checked October 2026.
Permeable driveways in Corby: what is involved
A permeable driveway lets rain soak through the surface and the base into the ground, instead of running onto the road. Resin bound, permeable block paving and stabilised gravel can all be built as permeable systems, but only on an open-graded base designed for the ground underneath.
Corby grew as a steel town: a New Town designated in 1950, with estates such as Kingswood, Lodge Park, Beanfield and Danesholme built for steelworkers, around the older villages of Corby Village, Great Oakley and Weldon. Priors Hall Park in the north east is planned for more than 5,000 homes, and many of its gardens are handed over as bare, compacted plots.
We cover Corby (NN17 and NN18) and the villages around it, including Weldon, Great Oakley, Corby Village, Gretton, Cottingham, Middleton, Rockingham, Stanion and East Carlton.
Ground and conservation in Corby
Corby sits on the Northampton Sand ironstone that fed the steelworks, and large areas around the town were opencast quarried and restored. Ground can change from natural ironstone to clay or fill within a garden, so we dig before we design the base and drainage. How fast the ground takes water changes from street to street in Corby, so we run a percolation test before choosing between a soakaway, a permeable base or a lined system with a controlled outlet.
Corby has nine conservation areas, including the Old Village, Cottingham and Middleton, Gretton, Rockingham, Stanion, Great Oakley and Weldon. Its only Article 4 direction (Kingswood) controls houses in multiple occupation and does not affect driveways, porches or extensions.
The Willow Brook runs through Corby and Weldon, with an Environment Agency flood storage reservoir at Weldon, so properties near the brook need drainage planned with care. You can check any address on the Environment Agency flood map.
Sources: North Northamptonshire conservation areas · Priors Hall Park.
Permissions in Corby
- PlanningA new or replacement front driveway needs no planning permission if it is permeable, or if the water drains to a lawn or border on your own land. More than 5m² of impermeable surface draining to the road needs planning permission. Listed buildings and the Corby conservation area have tighter rules, so we check your address before anything is designed. Planning Portal: paving your front garden
- Design and priceWe measure up, check the ground and the planning position, and give you one fixed written price.
Rules checked October 2026.
What you get
- Surfaces that meet the front garden rule without a planning application
- Open-graded sub-base sized for your ground and the rainfall
- Lined systems with a controlled outlet where the ground will not take water
- Resin bound, permeable block or stabilised gravel finishes
The specification
- Ground tested for how fast it takes water
- Geotextile and open-graded sub-base, no fines
- Permeable laying course
- Resin bound, permeable block or gravel surface
- Edges restrained so the surface cannot spread
- Five year workmanship guarantee in writing
“Really pleased with my new driveway. Beautifully finished, friendly professional workmen, would definitely recommend and will be using them again for the garden once other renovations complete.”
Driveway — Google review
“Absolutely great guys, job was done in good time and looks brilliant. No complaints, the driveway is immaculate. More work in the near future, thanks again!”
Driveway — Google review
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Permeable driveways in Corby: questions
How much does a permeable driveway cost in Corby?
Do I need planning permission for a permeable driveway in Corby?
Does the ground in Corby make a difference?
Is a permeable driveway the same as a soakaway?
Do permeable drives clog up?
Request a site visit in Corby
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.