Block Paving Driveways in Worcestershire

The complete block paving driveway guide for Worcestershire homeowners.

Block paving has been the premium UK driveway choice for over forty years and still has no real equal for kerb appeal, longevity and design flexibility. At Cathedral Landscapes we install premium concrete, clay and natural stone block paving across Worcester, Malvern, Droitwich, Pershore and Upton-upon-Severn – matched to your project and fit for purpose. Every driveway is laid by time-served pavers on a proper engineered sub-base – never sand-and-quick approach that fails within a few winters.

How much does a block paved driveway cost?

Block paving sits firmly in the premium kerb-appeal tier – it carries a higher specification than tarmac or resin. The price moves with three factors:
• Block choice – concrete blocks (Drivesett Tegula, Argent etc.) at the lower end, premium concrete (Drivesys, Trident) mid range, clay pavers and natural granite setts at the top.
• Pattern complexity – stretcher bond is fastest; 45° herringbone with mitred cuts to a curved edge takes considerably more labour.
• Edge and feature detailing – sett borders, contrasting colour fans, inset house number panels and similar bespoke elements.

How a block paved driveway should be built

Block paving lives or dies on what is underneath. We excavate to 250mm minimum, lay a woven geotextile membrane, compact 150mm of Type 1 MOT sub-base in two layers, set concrete-haunched edge restraints, screed 35 to 50mm of grit sand laying course, lay the blocks tight, then sweep in kiln-dried jointing sand and vibrate the surface with a paver compactor to lock everything in. Falls are set at 1:80 minimum away from the house. Skip any of those steps and the driveway will sink, ripple or weed within a couple of years.

Permeable block paving and SUDS compliance

Standard sand-jointed block paving is not classed as permeable and so a driveway over 5 square metres usually requires planning permission OR additional drainage. The cleanest solution is permeable block paving – blocks with chamfered edges create wider joints filled with 2 to 6mm angular grit and laid on an open-graded permeable bedding and sub-base. The whole construction lets rainwater pass straight through into the ground, making the driveway fully SUDS compliant and exempt from planning. We install both standard and permeable systems and will explain the right approach for your home.

Patterns – which one for a driveway?

For a driveway we almost always recommend 90° or 45° herringbone. The interlocking layout transfers wheel loads sideways across many blocks and resists creep even under heavy use. Stretcher bond (running brick pattern) is acceptable for low traffic and looks great with linear modern homes. Basketweave is a heritage pattern best reserved for footpaths and patios; it does not interlock under load.

Considering a different surface? Compare to our resin bound driveway, tarmac driveway and gravel driveway pages.

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