Driveways and patios in Bishop's Stortford
Block paving, resin, tarmac and patios across Bishop's Stortford, Thorley, Sawbridgeworth and Stansted, from a family-run firm 36 miles away in Colchester. Pick your job on the price card for a guide figure.
What are you looking to have done?
Two quick questions and you'll see a guide price.
Which surface for your driveway?
Not sure? Pick the closest; Tom talks through the options on the survey.
Block paving: roughly what size?
A typical two-car drive is 40 to 50 m². A guess is fine; the free survey measures it properly.
Guide price
Pick a surface
Guide range. Larger areas come in lower per m²; the free survey fixes the price in writing.
Our typical rates per square metre
- Block paving: around £130
- Tumbled paving: around £150
- Resin bound: around £200
- Tarmac: around £130
- Imprinted concrete: around £130
- Gravel: priced on the phone
- Indian sandstone: around £180
- Porcelain: around £200
We lay driveways and patios across Bishop's Stortford: block paving, resin bound, tarmac, imprinted concrete and gravel drives, Indian sandstone and porcelain patios, and garden landscaping, from Windhill, Hockerill and Thorley to St Michael's Mead, Stortford Fields, Sawbridgeworth, Stansted Mountfitchet and Much Hadham.
We're based in Colchester, about 36 miles away along the A120, and we come out to Bishop's Stortford to measure up and quote in person. The price goes in writing before anything is dug up, and the guarantees are the same wherever we work: 10 years in writing on block paving, resin and patios, 5 years on tarmac and gravel.
Every drive goes down on a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base with proper edges and drainage falls. See what's different about a drive in Bishop's Stortford further down, including the conservation-area rule on new drives.
Driveways, patios and gardens across Bishop's Stortford
Eight services, one team. Every job in Bishop's Stortford starts with a free survey and a written quote, and every installation carries a written guarantee.
Block paving
10-year written guarantee
Herringbone, basketweave or stretcher bond on a compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base, with concrete-haunched edges and a soldier-course border. Standard or tumbled blocks.
Block paving
Resin driveways
10-year written guarantee
Resin bound only, never bonded. UV-stable resin and natural aggregate hand-trowelled to 18mm over a solid base. Walk on it after 24 hours, park on it after 48.
Resin driveways
Patios
10-year written guarantee
Indian sandstone, porcelain, tumbled block paving or granite setts on a compacted hardcore base and semi-dry mortar bed, with falls away from the house. Steps and raised beds too.
Patios
Tarmac driveways
5-year written guarantee
Hot-mix asphalt laid as a binder course then a wearing course over MOT Type 1, with drainage falls and a block paving border if you want one. Usually done in one to two days.
Tarmac driveways
Imprinted concrete
Written guarantee
Pattern-imprinted concrete driveways and paths, poured in one piece and stamped in your pattern and colour, then sealed. No joints for weeds to take hold in.
Imprinted concrete
Gravel driveways
5-year written guarantee
Gravel held in a cellular grid over a weed membrane, so it stays off the road and drains properly. Pea gravel, slate chips or Cotswold stone with timber, brick or granite edging.
Gravel driveways
Cleaning and resealing
Priced on the survey
Block paving and patios pressure cleaned, re-sanded and resealed. Tarmac drives recoloured and resealed. The cheap way to make an old drive look new again.
Cleaning and resealing
Landscaping
Project guarantee
Paths, walls, steps, drainage, turf, artificial grass, sleeper raised beds, planting, fencing and decking. One team from clearance to the finished garden.
Landscaping
What's different about a drive in Bishop's Stortford
A malting town on the Stort, right on the Essex border. Here's what's worth knowing before you plan a drive.
From our yard to yours
From Colchester to Bishop's Stortford on the A120: About 36 miles · around 50 minutes without traffic, most of it on the A120
Bishop's Stortford takes its name from the ford over the Stort, and by 1800 it was the country's biggest supplier of brown malt to London's porter brewers. Its homes run from the old streets round Market Square and Windhill and the mid-19th-century terraces of Newtown, through early-20th-century Hockerill, to Thorley Park, St Michael's Mead and now Stortford Fields, where about 2,700 homes are going up. Parking is the old pinch: of Newtown Road, the council says the terraces and their narrow roads "were not designed for the transport needs of the modern family".
The ground changes across the town. The British Geological Survey records chalky boulder clay on the higher ground where the newer estates sit, and gravel and soft silty clay in the Stort valley, where the water table can be high. East Herts' flood study calls an infiltration test "imperative" before relying on a soakaway, so resin bound and permeable block paving, which let the rain soak through across the whole drive, are often the simpler answer.
Good to know in Bishop's Stortford
- Article 4 in the conservation area
- Since 2017 a new access onto the road anywhere in the Bishop's Stortford Conservation Area needs planning permission from East Herts District Council, and listed addresses on streets such as Windhill, Hadham Road, Dunmow Road and Portland Road need it to lay or replace a hard surface too.
- Dropped kerbs: two counties
- In the town, Thorley, Sawbridgeworth and the Hadhams, only Hertfordshire County Council's own contractor can lower a kerb, and the space must be at least 5 m by 2.7 m. Over the border in Stansted, Takeley and Hatfield Heath, Essex Highways gives consent and a qualified contractor builds it.
- Clay up top, gravel by the river
- Chalky boulder clay under the higher estates drains slowly; the gravels and silty clays in the Stort valley sit over a high water table. East Herts' flood study says to test the ground before relying on a soakaway.
- No water onto the road
- Hertfordshire County Council says it is an offence to let water from a drive run onto the pavement or road. The town has five or more surface-water flood records, with overland routes along the A1250, Stansted Road and Southmill Road.
Places we cover in and around Bishop's Stortford
Not listed? Call 01279 294082 and ask.
Town centre and WindhillCM23 3
The old core round Market Square, and mid-19th-century terraces on Newtown's narrow, hilly streets.
- 71 of the town's 105 listed buildings are in the conservation area.
- Article 4 covers addresses on Windhill, Portland Road and Newtown Road.
- On Portland Road, the council notes, some groups of houses have off-street parking and others don't.
HockerillCM23 2
Largely early-20th-century houses on Manor Road and Sandle Road, round the old coaching crossroads across the valley.
- Article 4 covers addresses on Dunmow Road, Manor Road and Stansted Road.
- The neighbourhood plan favours keeping front gardens over large areas of paving.
- The A1250 and Hockerill Street area is in Flood Zone 2.
Thorley ParkCM23 4
A 1980s estate on Thorley's old farmland, with the Thorley Centre at its heart.
- To the south, St James' Park is adding 750 homes; the first were handed over in March 2025.
- No conservation area covers Thorley Park.
St Michael's MeadCM23 4
Countryside's 1990s "new village" on former Green Belt, between St James' Way, Mercers Avenue and Moor Hall Lane.
- No conservation area covers St Michael's Mead.
Stortford FieldsCM23 2
Bishop's Stortford North: about 2,679 homes approved at Stortford Fields and St Michael's Hurst, being built out to 2033.
- Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey, Tilia and Vistry are building Stortford Fields; Countryside is building St Michael's Hurst beside Bat Willow Country Park.
SawbridgeworthCM21 9
A malting town with 107 listed buildings in a conservation area designated in 1968.
- The council notes London Road frontages opened up for parking, to the street's detriment.
- Lawrence Avenue, Northfield Road and homes along the Sawbridgeworth Brook are in the flood zones.
Stansted MountfitchetCM24 8
Bentfield End, Silver Street and Lower Street, which grew after the railway came in 1845 and merged in the mid-20th century.
- In Essex: Uttlesford District Council for planning, Essex Highways for kerbs.
- An Article 4 direction from 2011 covers hard surfaces and walls at listed properties on streets including Bentfield Road, Chapel Hill, Lower Street, Silver Street and Station Road.
Much HadhamSG10 6
A village along the River Ash, mostly 16th to 18th-century; over 90 listed buildings sit in its conservation area.
- Homes between Oundle Lane and the Ash are at flood risk.
1. Town centre and Windhill2. Hockerill3. Thorley Park4. St Michael's Mead5. Stortford Fields6. Sawbridgeworth7. Stansted Mountfitchet8. Much HadhamRecent work from our own team
Eight jobs from our own photos. Every one was laid by our team.
Block paving
Charcoal herringbone, buff chevron border
Resin driveways
Silver resin bound drive, charcoal edging
Patios
Grey block patio with steps
Block paving
Charcoal herringbone, curved border
Resin driveways
Golden resin, red brick border
Landscaping
Resin patio and artificial grass
Block paving
Interlocking diamond pattern in charcoal pavers
Block paving
Herringbone with drainage channel
Block paving, resin, tarmac, patios and landscaping, before and after.
What customers say
Verbatim from our Google listings. Names as they appear on the review.
4.9 from 30 Google reviews5.0 from 90 on Yell5.0 from 16 on Facebook
Abas Kociaj
January 2025 · Drive and patio
I was looking for a company to replace my drive and patio my friend recommended Tom and his company who had done he's around 10 years ago and still looks brilliant so I decided to go with them and they fulfilled my best expectations highly recommend great service 10/10
Ekhombk Dhekhob
November 2022 · Drive and patio
Would thoroughly recommend First 4 Driveways, really good quality work, and responsive to whatever your needs, happy to work around your own commitments..lots of case studies to share and advise .. we had over 200 square metres of drive and patio done and varying styles… looks great very impressed with the finished look.. 👍🏻👍🏻
Richard Parker
December 2023 · Driveway
This was a big task on a long wide driveway. The team were careful in the extensive preparatory work, not rushing any part of the process, and working steadily each day. The team leader was responsive to questions and clarified what they were doing at each stage and why. They obviously were concerned to do the work to a high standard. We are delighted with the result.
Why Bishop's Stortford homeowners choose First4Driveways
What customers mention in their reviews, and what we put in writing.
Quoted in person
We come out to measure up and talk it through, and the price goes in writing before anything is dug up.
Guarantees in writing
10 years on block paving, resin and patios, 5 on tarmac and gravel, handed over with the job.
Built on a proper base
Compacted MOT Type 1, proper edges and drainage falls under every drive, which slow-draining clay needs.
Insured, tidy, on time
Public liability cover on every job. Reviewers mention sites left spotless and work done when promised.
Bishop's Stortford questions
Straight answers for homeowners in Bishop's Stortford.
Do you cover all of Bishop's Stortford?
Yes: the town and the places round it, from Windhill, Hockerill and Thorley to St Michael's Mead, Stortford Fields, Sawbridgeworth, Stansted Mountfitchet and Much Hadham. Not listed? Call and ask.
Do I need planning permission for a new drive in Bishop's Stortford?
Not usually: paving more than 5 m² of a front garden needs permission only if the rain runs onto the road. But inside the Bishop's Stortford Conservation Area a new access onto the road needs planning permission from East Herts District Council, and listed addresses there need it to lay or replace a hard surface. A new dropped kerb onto an A, B or C road normally needs permission too.
Who lowers the kerb for a new drive in Bishop's Stortford?
In the town, Thorley, Sawbridgeworth and the Hadhams, only Hertfordshire County Council, with its own approved contractor; the drive has to be built first, so we lay it to the council's rules before they come. In Stansted, Takeley and Hatfield Heath it's Essex Highways, which gives consent for a qualified contractor to build it.
Is the ground in Bishop's Stortford good for a soakaway?
It depends where you are. The higher estates sit on chalky boulder clay that drains slowly, and the Stort valley has gravels over a high water table. East Herts' flood study says to test the ground before relying on a soakaway; a permeable drive spreads the rain over the whole surface instead.
How much does a new driveway cost in Bishop's Stortford?
The same as anywhere we work: around £130 per m² for block paving or tarmac, around £200 for resin bound, and larger areas come in lower per m². The price card gives you a guide in seconds.
How far are you from Bishop's Stortford?
We're in Colchester, about 36 miles away, most of it on the A120: around 50 minutes without traffic. The survey and the written quote are free in Bishop's Stortford, as everywhere we work.
Other areas we cover
Based in Colchester, working across Essex and Hertfordshire. These towns have their own pages.
Colchester
Our base. Every service, across the town and the villages around it.
Our base
Chelmsford
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across Chelmsford. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Chelmsford
Braintree
About 16 miles from our Colchester base. Driveways, patios and landscaping with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Braintree
Harlow
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across Harlow and Old Harlow. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Harlow
Hertford
Driveways, patios and landscaping across Hertford, Ware and the Hertfordshire villages around them.
Driveways in Hertford
St Albans
Block paving, resin driveways and patios across St Albans, Harpenden and the villages. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in St Albans
Southend
Block paving, resin driveways and patios from Leigh-on-Sea to Shoeburyness. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Southend
Brentwood
About 37 miles down the A12. Driveways and patios across Brentwood, Shenfield, Hutton and Ingatestone.
Driveways in Brentwood
Stevenage
Block paving, resin driveways and patios from the Old Town to Great Ashby. Free survey and written quote.
Driveways in Stevenage
Cambridge
Driveways, patios and landscaping across Cambridge and its villages, with the same written guarantee.
Driveways in Cambridge
Also covering: Witham, Clacton-on-Sea, Maldon, Halstead, Basildon, Billericay, Wickford, Rayleigh, Saffron Walden, Burnham-on-Crouch and the villages between. Not listed? Call and ask.
Get a free quote
Let's talk about your drive or patio
First4Driveways is a family-run business based in Colchester. Tom comes out to quote every job in person, talks through the options and materials, and puts the price in writing before anything is dug up. Block paving, resin and patios carry a written 10-year workmanship guarantee; tarmac and gravel carry five years.
- Free survey and a written quote
- Written guarantee on every job
- Fully insured, public liability cover
- Family-run, based in Colchester
Need to talk now?
Call Tom directly
Start your free quote
Tell us about the drive or garden and we'll arrange a free survey.