Garden Patios & Driveways In Nottingham
Hegarty Building Services Ltd lays block paved driveways in Nottingham, along with porcelain garden patios and pathways. A new driveway transforms the front of your home, giving it instant kerb appeal and easy off-road parking, whilst a well-designed garden patio creates an outdoor space you'll use all summer. Based in Mapperley, we build both to look great and stay that way for years.
Every job starts with a free site visit to check levels and drainage and talk through colours and patterns, followed by a detailed written quote.
What Makes A Driveway Last?
A driveway lasts when it's built on a properly compacted sub-base with good drainage and firm edges. Sinking, rutting and loose blocks usually come from shortcuts below ground, not the paving itself.
- Excavation: we dig out to the depth needed, removing soft soil, roots and old surfacing.
- Sub-base: a layer of crushed stone (MOT Type 1) is then added (typically 150 to 200mm deep for driveways) before being compacted in stages. Clay ground (common in parts of north and east Nottingham) sometimes require a deeper sub-base and a geotextile membrane.
- Edge restraints: kerbs or edging blocks set in concrete to stop the paving spreading under the weight of cars.
- Levels and falls: the surface slopes gently away from your house, and finishes at least 150mm below the damp proof course.
- Drainage: channel drains added where water would otherwise collect, so surface water doesn't pond during heavy rain.
Block Paving Driveways
Block paving is our main driveway surface. It's hard-wearing, handles the weight of vehicles well, and individual blocks can be lifted and re-laid if a drain or cable ever needs to be reached.
Our block paving comes in a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes - from crisp modern greys to tumbled blocks with a softer, aged look.
The laying pattern matters just as much as the design: a 45-degree herringbone pattern locks the blocks together most tightly, which is why it's the strongest choice for driveways, whilst basketweave and stretcher bond patterns suit paths and garden patios.
Once laid, we seal and treat the paving to reduce weed and algae growth and help resist oil stains, which keeps maintenance low.
Porcelain Garden Patios
Porcelain paving is dense and almost non-porous, so it resists staining, moss and fading far better than most natural stone. Because it absorbs so little water, each slab is laid on a full mortar bed with a bonding primer on the back (rather than on dabs of mortar) which stops slabs rocking or working loose. This makes it ideal for use on garden patios.
Patios are laid with a slight fall away from the house so rainwater runs off, and we build connecting paths, steps and garden walls so the whole space works together.
Do You Need Planning Permission For A Driveway?
You don't need planning permission for a new driveway in your front garden if it's permeable or drains onto your own land. If you're covering more than 5 square metres of front garden with a hard surface that doesn't let water through (such as standard block paving laid on sand), planning permission is required unless the rainwater is directed to a lawn, border or soakaway.
We design driveways to meet this rule, using permeable paving or a soakaway where needed, so no planning application is required.
If you need a dropped kerb to reach your new driveway, it must be approved by the highway authority. Inside the city boundary that's Nottingham City Council, whilst in areas such as Arnold, Beeston and West Bridgford it's Nottinghamshire County Council.
How Much Does A Block Paved Driveway Cost?
Published 2026 cost guides put block paved driveways at around £75 to £140 per square metre, fully installed. A typical 50m² driveway for two cars would therefore cost around £4,500 to £7,500.
The main things that affect the price are:
- Size and shape: curves and borders take more cutting than a straight rectangle.
- Ground conditions: soft or clay ground may need a deeper sub-base.
- Removing the old surface: breaking out and disposing of old concrete or tarmac adds cost.
- Drainage: channel drains or a soakaway may be needed to meet planning rules.
How Is A New Driveway Installed?
Most block paved driveways take around 3 to 7 days to install, depending on size and ground conditions. The work typically runs in this order:
- Site visit and quote: we measure the area, check levels and drainage, and agree the design.
- Excavation: the old surface and soil are dug out and removed from site.
- Drainage and edging: channel drains are installed and edge restraints are set in concrete.
- Sub-base: crushed stone is laid and compacted in layers.
- Laying bed: a screeded layer of sharp sand is spread to the correct levels.
- Paving: the blocks are laid in your chosen pattern and cut to fit around edges.
- Finishing: the surface is compacted, joints are filled with kiln-dried sand, and the paving is sealed.
Request A FREE Quote
We lay garden patios and driveways in Nottingham and the nearby areas including
Mapperley, Arnold, Carlton, Sherwood, Woodthorpe, Wollaton, Beeston and West Bridgford.
At your free site visit, we'll talk through colours, patterns and layouts, so you can picture the finished result before any work starts.
To arrange your free site visit and written quote, contact Chris and the team:
Telephone:
07463 074 477
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Email: