The typical Fairfield drive
A lot of Fairfield's housing has:
- an attached or linked garage set back beside the house;
- a single-width drive of concrete slabs or poured concrete running to it;
- an open-plan or low-walled front lawn alongside;
- a dropped kerb about one car wide.
Fifty-odd years on, the concrete is often cracked by tree roots, frost and settlement on the clay beneath. The obvious upgrade is to replace the strip and take in part of the lawn, so two cars fit side by side.
Replace, overlay or start again?
| Situation | Usual approach |
|---|---|
| Concrete sound, just ugly | Overlay with tarmac, or resin over a suitable base |
| Concrete cracked and rocking | Break out, re-base and lay new |
| Want two cars side by side | Break out, extend into the lawn, widen the crossing |
Breaking out and removing concrete is one of the biggest extras on a Fairfield job, because of the labour and the skip loads. Our cost guide shows how it adds up.
Widening the dropped kerb
If the drive gets wider, the kerb usually needs to as well. Driving over the full-height kerb beside the existing crossing is not allowed and damages the footway. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council handles widenings in the same way as new crossings: you apply, then either accept the council's quote or use a contractor with its Opening Up licence. UK averages put a widening at about £1,100 (Checkatrade). See dropped kerbs for the details.
Street trees and lamp posts are common on Fairfield's verges and can limit how wide a crossing can go.
Choosing a surface
- Tarmac suits wide, simple drives and keeps cost per square metre down.
- Block paving lets you add a border, a path to the door and a matching patio later.
- Resin is a neat, permeable choice where the old base can be reused or replaced properly.
Whatever the surface, water from a larger drive has to go somewhere. Falling it towards the remaining lawn or using a permeable surface keeps you within the front-garden rule. See permeable driveways.
Common questions
Can I lay tarmac over my old concrete drive?
Sometimes, if the concrete is stable. Cracks and joints can show through over time, so badly cracked concrete is better broken out.
Do I need permission to widen my drive?
The drive itself usually does not need planning permission if it is permeable or drains into the garden. Widening the dropped kerb does need the council's approval.
Will widening the kerb be refused?
It can be, for example if a street tree, lamp post or junction is in the way. Apply before building the wider drive.
How long does replacing a drive take?
Typically a few days for a standard double, longer if a lot of concrete has to come out.