Coventry has a lot of front gardens that have already been paved, and a lot of tired tarmac and block drives on the 1930s semis of Coundon, Radford, Cheylesmore and Styvechale. Resin-bound is a popular way to refresh them. The city council is also openly worried about how much rain those paved fronts send into the drains, so in Coventry the base under the resin matters as much as the finish on top.
Ground and Gate doesn't do the work. We pass your enquiry to one local driveway specialist who covers CV1 to CV8, and they confirm a fixed price with you directly.
What resin driveways cost in Coventry
| Job | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Resin-bound on a new base, per m² | £75–£115 |
| Resin-bound over sound tarmac or concrete, per m² | £55–£80 |
| Digging out a lawn for a new base, per m² | £10–£18 |
| Edgings, per metre | £25–£45 |
| Two-car drive over sound tarmac (about 30m²) | £2,200–£3,390 |
| Two-car drive on grass, new base (about 30m²) | £3,100–£4,980 |
These are our standard West Midlands ranges. A typical Coventry semi has room for a two-car drive of around 30m², so the worked examples above are a fair guide. Where an old tarmac drive is level and sound, an overlay keeps the price near the bottom of the range. If it has cracked or sunk, or the drive is old block paving, a dig-out and new base costs more. The block paving vs resin cost guide compares the two.
What pushes the price up here
- Failed old drives. Many 1980s and 1990s drives on the outer estates have sunk in the wheel tracks. Resin shows every movement in the base, so a failed base has to come out.
- Drainage work. Where a permeable base can't take all the water, a channel drain or an overflow to a border is extra. See drainage and soakaways.
- Old block paving. Resin can't be laid over blocks, so they are lifted first.
- Terraced access. On Earlsdon and Chapelfields terraces with small fronts, there may be no room for a mixer, which adds about 15–20%.
- Edges and borders. More edge per square metre on small or curved fronts means more trim.
Why Coventry cares about front-garden drainage
Coventry City Council is the Lead Local Flood Authority, responsible for surface water, groundwater and ordinary watercourses. Its Surface Water Management Plan, last reissued in February 2023, says the city has been hit by surface water flooding during storms several times since 1998. It names "urban creep", including extra driveways and patios, as something that can add 25% or more to the area draining to the sewers. The same plan says paved front gardens add rainwater to the drainage system, and that where extra driveway space is permitted, permeable driveways are encouraged.
The council's climate adaptation strategy goes further. It names the extensive laying of impermeable paving in front gardens as a concern that increases the risk of surface water flooding at neighbourhood level. Its permeable paving pages, written with the Environment Agency, list three ways to make a permeable drive:
- gravel or a mainly green, planted area
- directing water from a hard surface to a rain garden, border or soakaway
- permeable block paving, porous asphalt or porous concrete
Resin-bound on a permeable base sits in the third group. Resin over existing tarmac does not, unless the water is drained to a border or soakaway. The council's Householder Design Guide, adopted in 2023, also expects new hard standing to use porous materials and cover only the space needed.
Some streets have a long flood record. The plan lists more than six historical flood events at 74–86 Kingfield Road since 1980, and a 2008 event at the junction of Duggins Lane and Station Avenue that affected 25 properties. If you live near a known problem spot, check the Environment Agency's long-term flood risk service and ask the specialist to design for it. Flood questions go to flooding@coventry.gov.uk.
The 5m² rule, kerbs and Article 4
The national rule is that a front drive over 5m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a permeable area on your land. Our 5m² rule guide explains it. Coventry's dropped-kerb guidance restates the rule and adds a drainage condition: you must provide drainage so surface water doesn't run onto the highway before the crossing is built, with evidence of a drainage connection or a properly built soakaway. The council prefers sustainable drainage within your property. Flood risk is also listed as a reason a crossing can be refused. You'll need a dropped kerb to drive across the pavement, and the Coventry driveways page covers fees and contractors.
In three areas the normal right to pave a front garden has been removed:
- Earlsdon, where the 2022 Article 4 direction covers every property on 38 named streets and removes the right to lay or replace a hard surface visible from the street
- Brownshill Green, with the same control on properties on Wall Hill Road, Hawkes Mill Lane, Browns Lane and Long Lane
- Stoneleigh Road, where a 1992 direction covers hard surfaces in the strip 5 metres back from the front boundary
In these places, even a permeable resin drive needs planning permission first.
What the job involves
- Survey. The specialist checks whether the old drive is sound enough to overlay, and plans the falls so water drains away from the house and the road.
- Base. Either the old surface is repaired and primed, or the drive is dug out and a new permeable base laid.
- Edges and laying. Trims or block borders go in, then resin and dried stone are mixed in batches and trowelled to an even depth in one go.
- Curing. You can walk on it within hours and drive on it after a day or two, weather allowing.
Questions about resin driveways in Coventry
Can I lay a resin drive in Earlsdon without planning permission?
Not on the 38 streets covered by the Earlsdon Article 4 direction. It removes the right to lay or replace a hard surface visible from the street, so even a permeable resin drive needs an application. Check the council's planning map to see if your street is inside the boundary.
Does Coventry check drainage before it builds my dropped kerb?
Yes. The council's guidance says you must stop surface water running onto the highway before the crossing is built, and show that water drains to a drainage system or a properly built soakaway. A permeable resin drive on a permeable base is one way to meet that.
Is resin over old tarmac permeable enough for a Coventry front garden?
Usually not on its own, because the tarmac underneath stops the water. Over 5m², it needs to drain to a border, rain garden or soakaway on your land, or you need planning permission. A new permeable base avoids the problem.
Who do I contact about surface water flooding on my Coventry street?
Coventry City Council's flood risk team, as the Lead Local Flood Authority, at flooding@coventry.gov.uk, or by phone on 08085 834333.