Why people choose gravel
- Cost. At about £60 per m² on Checkatrade's April 2026 averages, it is the lowest-cost of the four main surfaces.
- Drainage. Water drains straight through, so a gravel drive normally does not need planning permission under the front-garden rule.
- Security. You can hear someone walking on it.
- Looks. It suits larger, older houses, such as the Edwardian and inter-war homes in Hartburn, where a sweep of buff gravel with a brick edge is more in keeping than blocks.
Where gravel goes wrong
Most gravel complaints come down to three things:
- Rutting. Cars push the stones aside and dig into the ground beneath, especially on soft clay after rain. The fix is a firm sub-base and, ideally, plastic grid panels that hold the gravel in cells.
- Stones on the pavement. Gravel tracked or kicked onto the footway is a slip hazard and a nuisance. A solid apron of block paving or tarmac at the entrance, typically a metre or so deep, stops this.
- Weeds. A permeable weed membrane under the gravel and an annual top-up keep it clean.
Steep drives are not ideal for loose gravel, which migrates downhill. On a slope, grid panels or a bound surface such as resin work better.
How a good gravel drive is built
- Dig out roughly 150mm or more below finished level.
- Lay a geotextile membrane on the clay.
- Lay and compact a crushed stone sub-base.
- Fix edging, such as setts, timber or steel, so the gravel stays in place.
- Lay grid panels if used, then fill with 10 to 20mm angular gravel. Angular stone locks together better than rounded pea shingle, which rolls underfoot.
- Build the apron at the pavement end.
Cost in Stockton
| Drive | Typical cost at £60/m² |
|---|---|
| 20m² single | about £1,200 |
| 40m² double | about £2,400 |
| 80m² large drive | about £4,800 |
Source: Checkatrade driveway cost guide, April 2026.
Grid panels, sett edging and a block apron all add to the basic figure, but they are what make the drive last. Our cost guide shows how the extras compare across surfaces.
Gravel, drainage and the highway
A gravel drive is the simplest way to stay within the front-garden drainage rule, because the whole surface is permeable. Our permeable driveways guide explains the rule in full. The apron and any new kerb crossing are different: the footway and kerb belong to the council, so a new crossing has to be agreed with Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council first. See dropped kerbs.
Common questions
Is gravel good for a driveway on clay?
Yes, if it has a proper sub-base, a membrane and ideally grid panels. Without them, clay softens in wet weather and the gravel ruts.
How do I stop gravel going onto the pavement?
Build a solid apron of block paving or tarmac at the entrance and keep the gravel a little below the edging.
Does a gravel drive need planning permission?
Normally not, because it is permeable. Changing the front wall or creating a new access can still need permission or highway approval.
What size gravel is best?
Angular stone around 10 to 20mm is common for drives. Avoid small rounded pea gravel, which rolls and spreads.
How often does gravel need topping up?
Typically every year or two, depending on use and how well it is contained.
Can I use gravel on a sloping drive?
Only gentle slopes, and ideally with grid panels. On steeper drives a bound surface is better.
