Block Paving & Driveways in York

Driveways built to take everyday use

A driveway gets driven on, parked on, frozen and soaked year after year. What keeps it flat and free of ruts isn’t the blocks on top — it’s the excavation, sub-base and edging underneath. That’s where we put the effort.

Every block paving driveway we install in York starts with a site survey: checking levels, existing drainage, manholes, access and where rainwater will run. From there we design a layout that works for your parking and looks right with your house and street.

What’s included in a typical block paving job

• Removal of the old surface, turf or soil, with waste taken away
• Excavation to a depth suited to the ground and the use
• Geotextile membrane where needed to separate the sub-base from the soil
• Crushed stone sub-base laid and compacted in layers
• Concrete-haunched edge restraints or kerbs to stop the paving spreading
• Blocks laid on a screeded bed, cut neatly around edges, drains and covers
• Kiln-dried jointing sand brushed in and the surface compacted
• Drainage: falls, channel drains, soakaways or permeable paving as required

Block paving styles and patterns

Concrete block paving comes in a wide range of colours, sizes and textures — from smooth contemporary greys and charcoals to tumbled, aged blocks that suit York’s older brick homes. Popular laying patterns include:

• Herringbone — the strongest pattern for driveways because the blocks interlock in two directions.
• Stretcher bond — clean, linear and modern, great for making narrow drives look longer.
• Basket weave — a traditional look, better suited to paths and patios than heavy traffic.
• Random multi-size — a natural, cobbled feel using mixed block sizes.

Contrasting borders, banding and soldier courses help define edges and break up larger areas.

Permeable paving and front garden rules

In England, a new or replacement hard surface of more than 5 square metres in a front garden generally needs to be permeable — or drain onto a lawn or border within the property — otherwise planning permission is needed. Permeable block paving lets water drain through widened joints into a specially designed open-graded sub-base. We’ll advise on whether permeable paving, a soakaway or a drained solution is right for your plot.

Dropped kerbs in York

If you need a new or wider vehicle crossing, a dropped kerb has to be applied for and approved by City of York Council as the highway authority before any work is done on the pavement. We can explain the process, plan your driveway around the approved crossing and coordinate timings. Read our guide to dropped kerbs and driveway widening in York.

More driveways & block paving services in York

• Dropped Kerbs & Driveway Widening — Planning a new or wider driveway around a council-approved dropped kerb.