Paving contractor pricing in Belfast

Per-sqm installed: standard concrete driveway £40-£85; asphalt £35-£75; standard concrete block paving £55-£120; sandstone setts £140-£280; Yorkshire sandstone £90-£185; Indian sandstone £60-£140; granite £140-£280; permeable block paving £80-£180; resin-bound gravel £75-£140. Malone BT9, Stranmillis BT9, Cultra BT18, Holywood BT18 premium of 25-40% above standard. VAT 20% as separate line. Belfast rates run 20-30% below London.

Typical 30-50sqm driveway runs £3,500-£18,000 depending on material. Quote separately: excavation and disposal, sub-base (150mm Type 1 MOT for freeze-thaw), sand bedding or screed, paving material, edging restraints, jointing and sealing, vehicle crossing licence (£250-£800) if street-facing. Add salt-resistant block paving premium (£20-£40/sqm) for Malone BT9 and Cultra BT18. State SuDS compliance on every quote.

Yes, on most jobs. NI Building Regulations Technical Booklet H (drainage and waste disposal) applies; SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) increasingly required on renovations and new construction. Permeable paving qualifies. Quote permeable block paving (£80-£180/sqm), soakaway crates (£1,200-£4,500 each), and rain garden tie-ins as separate lines. Standard impermeable driveway over 5sqm needs SuDS sign-off.

Yes, niche premium revenue. Cathedral Quarter BT1, Donegall Street BT1, and parts of Linen Quarter have extensive original sandstone setts heritage paving. Quote restoration at £140-£280/sqm for sett relaying. Belfast City Council heritage department reviews any sett or flagstone replacement in Conservation Areas (Areas of Townscape Character); quote consent fee (£200-£600) on every Conservation Area job.

Any new vehicle access from public road needs Belfast City Council vehicle crossing (dropped kerb) licence (£250-£800). Quote licence fee and crossing construction (£1,500-£3,500 per standard crossing) as separate line. Lisburn and Castlereagh (Lisburn Road BT9), Ards and North Down (Cultra BT18, Holywood BT18), Antrim and Newtownabbey, Mid and East Antrim have similar processes. Lead time 4-10 weeks.

Per square metre rates are £50 to £175 installed in the US, depending on paver type. Hourly rates (£28-95) only apply for repairs and small remediation work. Most paving contractors quote fixed-price per sqm with adders for pattern, edging, and drainage.

Concrete is cheaper (£16/sqm material), softer, may need re-sealing every 3-5 years, and weathers over time. Porcelain is more expensive (£50/sqm+), harder, requires no sealing, and looks like-new at year 20. Concrete dominates driveways; porcelain dominates patios and pools.

A driveway over poor sub-base sinks 30-100mm over 5 years, cracks pavers, and pools water. Quality sub-base (100-150mm of CBR-tested crushed rock, compacted in lifts) keeps the surface flat for 20+ years. Most failed paving traces to sub-base, not the pavers.

Yes, 2-3 quotes for any paving over £1,870. Compare paver brand, sub-base depth, edging spec, and drainage approach. The cheapest quote almost always cuts sub-base or skips edging, both of which fail within 3-5 years.

If the driveway connects to a public road or changes a council kerb crossing, almost always yes. Council layback permits are £155-1,200 depending on region. The paving contractor should include this in the quote, not hide it.