Driveways · Yateley, Hampshire
Block paving driveways in Yateley - laid to last.
Clay and concrete block paving driveways across GU46, on full sub-bases with proper edge restraints, SUDS-compliant where it needs to be.
Workshop in GU15 - close to Yateley
Same team on site every day
10+ years across Surrey, Berkshire, Hampshire
Typical book-in is four to eight weeks; build one to three weeks on site.
What we mean by driveways
The bit beneath the surface.
Driveways are the only part of the garden that takes a car every day. The ones that sink at the wheel tracks or rut at the gates were almost always laid on a sub-base that was too shallow, or edged in courses that weren't haunched in concrete. The visible block is the easy bit.
Sub-base built for the load
Type 1 to 200mm minimum for cars, compacted in 100mm layers - not dumped in one go. Geotextile separation where the ground is soft or wet.
Edges haunched, not just laid
Perimeter and feature courses haunched in C20 concrete so the field doesn't migrate sideways at the kerbline within five years.
Pattern that suits the house
Herringbone for strength under traffic, stretcher for paths and edges, clay or concrete block chosen to read with the property. Feature courses in a contrast tone where the front asks for it.
Why this works in Yateley
Locally tuned, not location-swapped.
Most failed Yateley driveways are sub-base problems wearing a block-paving face. The blocks look fine in the brochure; the 80mm of MOT underneath them was the problem. We build the layer you don't see properly, then lay onto it.
GU46 driveways often need to be SUDS-compliant because of how close the water table sits to the surface on the lower plots - permeable blocks, an open-graded sub-base, and a proper outfall to a soakaway or French drain. We plan for that on the first visit, not as an afterthought when the inspector asks.
- Blackwater-side wet ground - Plots low off Vigo Lane or backing onto the meadows hold water through winter. Patios get lifted falls, sub-bases get an extra 50mm of Type 1, and drainage is sized properly rather than relying on the ground to soak it away.
- Bagshot sand around the Common - Free-draining ground is friendly to patio sub-bases but unfriendly to lawns and most planting unless the topsoil is improved. We import compost and condition before we turf or plant.
- Mature oaks, pines & leaf load - Common-side gardens carry serious leaf litter and substantial root zones. We design garden rooms and terraces around root protection zones and detail gutters and drains for autumn loading.
- Builder's compaction on newer estates - Darby Green, Frogmore and Potley Hill plots almost all share the same story - thin topsoil over compacted hardcore. We lift the top, cultivate or import soil and rebuild sub-bases properly.
Recent driveways
A few from in and around Yateley.
Hand-picked from recent projects across Hampshire. Same approach, different gardens.
off Vigo Lane · GU46
Permeable clay block driveway, full re-build.
A Vigo Lane family had a sinking concrete driveway that was puddling against the front door. We took the slab out, dug to 350mm, laid a permeable open-graded sub-base over geotextile, and ran a clay block paving herringbone with a soldier course. Discharges to a new soakaway in the front lawn.
More driveways →How we build it
The detail, in plain numbers.
Sub-base
Type 1 to 200mm under driveways, 100mm under paths
Laying course
30–50mm sharp sand, screeded level
Edges
Perimeter haunched in C20 concrete
Jointing
Kiln-dried sand brushed and vibrated, repeated after a week
BudgetMost block-paved driveways sit between £6,500 and £18,000 depending on size, pattern and drainage.
TimingTypical book-in is four to eight weeks; build one to three weeks on site.
Common questions
What Yateley clients usually ask about driveways.
Do I need planning permission for a new driveway in Yateley?+
Not if it's permeable (or drains to a permeable area on your own land). On most GU46 plots we build permeable as standard, which keeps the project under permitted development and avoids any planning conversation entirely.
Will the new driveway need planning permission?+
If it drains to a permeable area or includes a soakaway, no - under permitted development. If you're paving over to non-permeable surface without drainage, sometimes yes. We design with permeability or proper soakaway drainage in mind so it isn't an issue.
Can we keep our existing kerb line and just replace the surface?+
Sometimes - if the kerbs are sound and properly haunched. We check on the first visit and only rebuild what genuinely needs it.
How do we stop the joints going green or weedy?+
Proper kiln-dried sand jointing, brushed and vibrated, repeated a week later as the sand settles. A polymeric joint compound is an option on shaded drives where moss is a persistent problem. We give you care notes for the first year.
Other work in Yateley
Same team, different parts of the garden.
Nearby
Driveways in nearby areas.
Yateley · Hampshire
Talk to us about driveways in Yateley.
A short WhatsApp with a photo or two is the easiest way to start. Same-day reply, often within the hour.