How much does a driveway cost in Sale & Trafford?

Most new driveways around Sale, Altrincham and Stretford cost somewhere between £2,500 and £6,000. The surface you choose, the size of the drive and the condition of the ground underneath decide where you land in that range. The figures below are typical UK guide prices for 2026 taken from published cost guides, not an MKB price list. Your quote comes after we have seen and measured the drive.

Guide prices per m² (supplied and fitted)

Surface	Typical guide price per m²	Typical 40 m² two-car drive
Tarmac	£45 – £90	£1,800 – £3,600
Block paving (standard)	£70 – £130	£2,800 – £5,200
Resin-bound	£60 – £130	£2,400 – £5,200

Guide prices include excavation, sub-base, edging and the surface on a straightforward job. Small drives cost more per m² because the fixed costs (skips, plant, setting up) are spread over less area. Check whether any quote you receive includes VAT.

What pushes a quote up

• Digging out the old drive. Resin laid over a sound existing surface costs noticeably less than resin on a full dig-out. Tarmac over an existing base is cheaper than two layers on new stone.
• The base. Soft or clay ground often needs a deeper sub-base. The base is where cheap quotes cut corners, and it is what stops a drive sinking.
• Drainage. A channel drain or soakaway adds cost but avoids puddles and keeps you inside the planning rules. See driveway drainage.
• Levels and slope. Sloping drives, retaining edges and steps take more labour. Stockport and parts of Hale and Bowdon have more of these.
• Access and waste. Narrow access means hand digging and smaller skips. Spoil has to be taken away and disposed of properly.
• Edges and borders. A block border or edging in a contrasting colour adds materials and laying time. See our gallery for examples.
• Dropped kerb. If you cross a pavement or verge you need your council's permission, and the crossing is a separate cost. See planning and dropped kerbs.

Cheapest is not always cheapest

Two quotes for the same drive can be hundreds of pounds apart because one includes a proper dig-out and compacted sub-base and the other does not. When you compare quotes, ask each contractor the same questions:

1. How deep is the dig-out and what is the sub-base (for example, compacted Type 1)?
2. What happens to the water, and is a channel drain or soakaway included?
3. Is the old surface removed and taken away, and is waste disposal included?
4. What edging is included, and is VAT included?
5. What is the payment schedule, and is the quote in writing?

How we quote in Sale and Trafford

We come out, measure the drive, look at the levels and drainage, and give you a written quote with the surface options priced side by side. It is free and there is no obligation. Call 07890 053070, message us on WhatsApp or use the quote form. If you are not sure which surface suits you, start with resin vs tarmac vs block paving or try the driveway visualiser on a photo of your own drive.

We cover Sale and everywhere within 20 miles, including Altrincham, Stretford, Urmston, Timperley and Stockport. See all areas we cover.