# Redcar Driveways: full text of the main pages > Source: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/. Content dated 2026-10-03. Summary index: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/llms.txt --- # Driveways in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/ From Coatham's Victorian terraces to the Lakes Estate and Wheatlands, get a free survey and quote from our team for a new drive, driveway repair or dropped kerb. In short: The price of a new drive in Redcar depends mostly on the surface, the size and the groundwork underneath, so we measure up before quoting. Near the sea, choose UV-stable resin or well-jointed block paving and allow for wind-blown sand. A new dropped kerb is applied for by the property owner through Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which prices each crossing individually. ## Building a drive by the sea Redcar is a seaside town first, and that shapes driveway work more than people expect. Salt in the air, sand blown off the beach and a stiff wind off the North Sea all affect which surfaces last and how they should be finished. - **Sand gets everywhere.** On streets close to the Esplanade, wind-blown sand collects in joints and on resin. A drive with tight joints, a slight fall and no deep corners is easier to sweep clean. - **Salt and sun.** Resin needs a UV-stable binder or it can yellow, and cheap metal edging can corrode. Concrete block, clay pavers and natural stone cope well. - **Ground conditions vary.** Streets nearer the shore often sit on sandier ground that drains more freely than the clay found further inland. A survey should check rather than assume. Our guide to coastal driveways goes into more detail. ## Typical Redcar homes and what they need | Housing | Where you find it | Common job | |---|---|---| | Victorian and Edwardian terraces | Coatham, Newcomen, around the town centre | Small frontage, permeable surface, careful kerb check | | 1920s garden-village houses | Dormanstown | Lawn to drive, keeping verges and hedges | | Inter-war and post-war semis | West Dyke, Zetland, Kirkleatham | Widening a single drive, replacing old concrete | | 1950s to 1970s council-built homes | Lakes Estate | New crossing, lawn to drive conversion | | Modern estates | Wheatlands | Re-laying sunken block paving, upgrading builder drives | See areas we cover for a page on each neighbourhood. ## What decides the price Every drive is priced on the area and the surface, but most of the difference between two quotes sits underneath: how deep the dig goes, what the sub-base is made of and where the water will drain. Gravel is usually the lowest-cost surface, tarmac and block paving sit in the middle, and resin bound is usually the dearest. Near the sea, UV-stable resin and well-jointed blocks are worth the extra. Digging out old concrete, drainage and a new crossing are on top of the surface itself. We measure up and give you a fixed quote, and the Redcar cost guide explains each of these factors. ## Dropped kerbs in Redcar If you need a new crossing, the **property owner** applies to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. The council treats each crossing on its merits and prices it individually. Work on the footway is carried out by the council or its approved contractors, so a driveway firm cannot simply lower the kerb. Read dropped kerbs in Redcar and the step-by-step dropped kerb guide. ## Common questions ### How much does a driveway cost in Redcar? It depends on the surface, the size and the groundwork. Gravel is usually the lowest-cost option and resin bound the highest. We give you a fixed price after measuring up, free and with no obligation. ### Which surface is best near the sea? Block paving, clay pavers and UV-stable resin all cope well. Avoid cheap resins and uncoated metal edging close to the seafront. ### Do I need permission for a new drive? Usually not if the surface is permeable or drains into your garden. A new dropped kerb always needs the council's approval, and some conservation areas have extra controls. ### Who builds the dropped kerb? Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council or its approved contractors, after the property owner has applied and accepted the council's price. ### Is the quote really free? Yes. We contact you, visit if needed and give a quote with no obligation. --- # Resin driveways in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/resin-driveways/ Resin-bound stone gives a smooth, seamless finish that suits Redcar's painted seafront houses and modern estates alike. By the coast, the choice of resin and the base beneath it decide whether it still looks good in ten years. In short: A resin-bound drive needs a permeable base so water drains through. In Redcar, insist on a UV-stable (aliphatic) resin, which resists yellowing in strong coastal light. Wind-blown sand can be brushed off, but deep joints and corners should be avoided in the design. Resin is usually the dearest of the main surfaces. ## Resin-bound, not resin-bonded **Resin-bound** means the stone is mixed with resin and trowelled into a smooth layer, usually 15 to 18mm deep for a drive. Water drains through the tiny gaps between stones. **Resin-bonded** means stone scattered onto a resin coat, which gives a loose, gravelly finish and is not permeable. For a drive, resin-bound is the one most people want. ## Why UV stability matters in Redcar Redcar's open coastline means a lot of reflected light off sea and sand. Cheaper **aromatic** resins can darken or yellow over time in sunlight, especially on pale stone blends. **Aliphatic** (UV-stable) resins cost more but hold their colour. Ask which type is being quoted and get it in writing. ## Sand, salt and wind - **Sand.** Wind-blown sand settles on resin and can be brushed or blown off. A gentle fall helps rain wash the surface. Avoid sharp internal corners where it piles up. - **Salt.** Resin itself copes well with salt spray, but some metal edging does not. Aluminium or stainless edge strips, or block borders, are safer near the seafront. - **Wind.** On an exposed day, laying resin needs care, as grit and sand can blow into the wet mix. We watch the forecast before a resin pour. ## The base underneath Resin is only as good as what is underneath it: | Base | Permeable? | When it is used | |---|---|---| | Open-graded (porous) tarmac on a stone sub-base | Yes | New drives, the standard choice | | Existing sound tarmac | No | Overlays where drainage is handled at the edges | | Existing concrete | No | Overlays on stable slabs, with crack treatment | A permeable base keeps you within the front-garden drainage rule. Laying resin over solid tarmac or concrete does not, unless the water runs off into your garden. See block paving if you prefer a surface that is easier to lift and re-lay. ## Cost Resin bound is usually the dearest of the main drive surfaces. UV-stable resin, a new base and edging are where quotes differ, so check each one names the resin type and the base. Our resin or block paving guide compares the two side by side. ## Questions to ask 1. Is the resin aliphatic (UV-stable)? 2. What depth and stone size will you lay? 3. What base is going down, and is it permeable? 4. What edging will you use near the pavement? 5. How long is the guarantee, and what does it exclude? ## Resin on different Redcar homes Resin looks particularly smart on rendered and painted houses close to the seafront, where a pale stone blend picks up the colour of the sand. On red-brick semis in West Dyke and Zetland, a warmer bronze or autumn blend sits better. Modern homes in Wheatlands often suit a silver-grey mix that matches window frames and doors. Ask to see a physical sample laid in daylight rather than choosing from a printed chart, because stone colours change once they are bound in resin and seen outdoors. ## Common questions ### Does resin go yellow by the sea? Aromatic resins can discolour in strong sunlight. UV-stable aliphatic resins are designed not to. ### Will sand damage a resin drive? Not usually. Brush it off regularly so it does not get ground into the surface by tyres. ### Can resin go over my old concrete? Sometimes, if the concrete is stable and crack-free. It will not be permeable, so drainage must be planned. ### How long does resin last? Typically 15 to 20 years or more when laid on a proper base with a UV-stable resin. ### When can I drive on it? Usually after 24 to 48 hours, depending on temperature. --- # Block paving in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/block-paving/ Block paving is the most common drive surface on Redcar's estates for good reason: it is strong, repairable and comes in colours that suit red brick, render and pebble-dash alike. In short: A herringbone block paved drive on a compacted stone sub-base and screeded sand bed resists turning tyres best. Near the seafront, kiln-dried jointing sand topped up regularly, or a joint stabiliser, stops wind-blown sand and weeds taking over. Standard blocks are not permeable, so the drive needs to fall to a border or a drain on your land. ## Laying patterns | Pattern | Look | Best for | |---|---|---| | Herringbone (45° or 90°) | Interlocking zig-zag | Drives, because it resists turning and braking tyres | | Stretcher bond | Brick-like rows | Narrow drives with a straight run | | Basketweave | Pairs at right angles | Decorative areas, less suited to heavy turning | Herringbone is the usual recommendation for any area a car turns on. ## What goes underneath 1. **Dig out** around 200 to 250mm for a drive. 2. **Sub-base** of crushed stone, compacted in layers. 3. **Edge restraints**: kerbs or soldier courses bedded in concrete, so the blocks cannot spread. 4. **Sand bed**, screeded level, about 30 to 50mm. 5. **Blocks** laid, cut to fit and compacted with a plate. 6. **Jointing sand** brushed in and compacted again. Skimping on the sub-base or the edge restraint is the main reason blocks sink and spread. ## Sand, weeds and the coast Close to the Esplanade, wind-blown beach sand collects in block joints. That is not a disaster: sand-filled joints are how block paving works. The problems come when joints empty and fill with organic dirt that lets weeds grow. Kiln-dried jointing sand topped up every year or so, or a joint stabilising sealer, keeps the surface tight. ## Colours that suit Redcar houses - **Brindle and burnt-red tones** for red-brick inter-war semis in West Dyke and Zetland. - **Charcoal with a silver-grey border** for rendered or pebble-dashed houses. - **Buff and natural tones** for modern estates such as Wheatlands, where brick is often lighter. ## Re-laying a sunken drive Builder-laid drives on newer estates sometimes dip where cars park. The blocks can usually be lifted, the base rebuilt and the same blocks re-laid, which is cheaper than new paving. ## Cost and drainage Block paving usually costs more than tarmac and less than resin bound, and the base underneath decides most of the difference between quotes. Standard block paving is not permeable, so the drive should fall towards a border or a drain on your land. Permeable block paving, with wider joints and an open-graded base, is an alternative. Compare it with resin in our resin or block paving guide. ## Block paving and Redcar's housing mix Block paving is the most adaptable surface for the variety of houses in Redcar. In Dormanstown it can follow curved frontages and leave room for a hedge. On the Lakes Estate it works for compact lawn-to-drive conversions. In Wheatlands it can be matched to the builder's original blocks when a drive is widened. Where a frontage meets a grass verge, a soldier course of blocks along the edge stops the lawn creeping and gives the mower a clean line to follow. ## Common questions ### How long does block paving last? Twenty years or more with a proper sub-base and edge restraint. ### Is herringbone worth it? For a drive, yes. It interlocks better under turning tyres. ### Will sea air damage concrete blocks? Concrete blocks are generally durable in coastal air. Colours can mellow over time. ### Can I extend block paving later? Yes. That is one of its advantages over resin and tarmac. ### Do I need planning permission? Not if it drains to a permeable area within your property. Otherwise, over 5m² at the front can need permission. --- # Tarmac driveways in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/tarmac-driveways/ Tarmac is practical and fast, and it suits the long shared drives and wide frontages found on parts of Redcar's post-war estates. It is also the surface most often offered on the doorstep, so a written specification matters. In short: A sound tarmac drive has a compacted stone sub-base, a binder course and a surface course, held in by concrete kerbs or block edging. Standard tarmac is impermeable, so it should drain into your garden or a soakaway. It usually costs less than block paving or resin. Be wary of 'leftover tarmac' offers at the door. ## The layers of a proper job - **Sub-base:** crushed stone, compacted, typically 150mm or more. - **Binder course:** a coarse asphalt layer for strength. - **Surface course:** a fine, dense asphalt layer, rolled smooth. - **Edging:** concrete kerbs, setts or blocks bedded in concrete. Ask for each layer's thickness on the quote. ## Doorstep offers Redcar, like many coastal towns, sees "we have tarmac left over from a job nearby" offers. Those jobs often skip the sub-base, use a single thin layer and have no fixed address for follow-up. Get a quote with a specification and a business address, and take time to compare. ## Resurfacing or replacing | Condition | Approach | |---|---| | Surface worn, base firm | New surface course over the old, with edges repaired | | Potholes in a few spots | Cut out and patch, then overlay | | Sinking or cracking across the drive | Dig out and rebuild | Every overlay raises the drive. Keep the finished level at least 150mm below the damp-proof course and check that garage doors still clear. ## Edges and the weather On exposed frontages, edges take a beating from frost, wind-driven rain and tyres. A firm concrete-bedded edge stops crumbling. Block or sett borders also give a neater finish against lawns. ## Cost Tarmac usually costs less than block paving or resin bound, and bigger drives cost less per square metre because the machinery and crew are spread further. Breaking out old concrete and adding drainage add to the price. See the Redcar cost guide. ## Drainage Standard tarmac sheds water. Falling the drive to a lawn, adding a channel drain to a soakaway, or using porous asphalt keeps you within the front-garden rule for areas over 5m². If budget is the priority and you want natural drainage, gravel is cheaper still. ## Tarmac on Redcar's estates Tarmac works particularly well on the wide, simple frontages of post-war streets in Dormanstown and the Lakes Estate, where a front lawn is being turned into parking for the first time. A black surface with a contrasting block border looks tidy against brick, and the speed of laying means the job is often finished in a day or two once the base is down. On shared private accesses, where several households use one drive, tarmac is usually the most economical way to resurface a long run. Agree in writing who pays which share before work starts, and make sure every owner is happy with the levels where the shared section meets each private drive. ## Common questions ### How long does tarmac last? Typically 15 to 20 years with a sound base. ### When can I park on it? Usually after a day or two. Avoid turning the steering wheel while stationary for a few weeks. ### Can tarmac be coloured? Yes, red and green tarmac are available at extra cost. ### Is tarmac cheaper than block paving? Usually, yes, though the groundwork matters more than the surface. ### Do I need a dropped kerb? If you do not already have one, yes. See dropped kerbs. --- # Gravel driveways in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/gravel-driveways/ Gravel is the quickest and cheapest way to add parking, and it drains naturally. In Redcar the trick is choosing a stone heavy and angular enough to stay put in coastal wind and rain. In short: Gravel is the lowest-cost of the main drive surfaces. In Redcar, use angular stone of 14 to 20mm rather than fine pea shingle, which blows and rolls. Lay it on a compacted base with a membrane and stabilising grids, and finish with a solid apron at the pavement so stones stay off the footway. ## Picking the right stone | Stone | Behaviour | Verdict for Redcar | |---|---|---| | Fine pea shingle (6 to 10mm) | Rounded, rolls and scatters | Avoid on drives | | Angular gravel (14 to 20mm) | Locks together, stays put | Recommended | | Slate chippings | Flat, can shift under tyres | Better for borders | | Golden or buff flint | Attractive, angular grades available | Good with grids | Heavier, angular stone resists both tyres and wind. Pale golden stones suit Redcar's sandy setting and painted houses. ## Grids stop rutting Plastic cellular grids, laid on the sub-base and filled with gravel, hold the stones in small cells. They stop ruts forming and keep a level surface under the car. They are especially worth having on soft or sandy ground. ## The apron Gravel on the pavement is a hazard and a nuisance. A metre or so of block paving or tarmac at the entrance, set slightly higher than the gravel, catches stones before they reach the footway. ## Building it 1. Excavate about 150mm. 2. Lay a geotextile membrane. 3. Compact a crushed-stone sub-base. 4. Fix edging (setts, timber or steel). 5. Lay grids and fill with gravel. 6. Build the apron at the road end. ## Cost Gravel is usually the lowest-cost of the main surfaces. Grids, edging and the apron add to the basic job but are what make gravel practical. ## Drainage and permission Gravel is permeable, so it normally needs no planning permission under the front-garden rule. A new crossing still needs the council's approval. See dropped kerbs. For a sealed, smooth finish that still drains, see resin. ## Where gravel suits Redcar homes Gravel sits naturally with Redcar's coastal setting. A golden or buff stone echoes the beach, and it suits larger plots in Kirkleatham and the bigger gardens in Zetland, where a long drive in blocks or resin would be expensive. It is also a sensible stopgap for owners planning a bigger project later: lay a good sub-base and grids now, use gravel on top, then upgrade to block or resin in a few years without redoing the groundwork. For terraced streets in Newcomen and Coatham, gravel is less practical, because short frontages put loose stone too close to the pavement. In those cases a bound surface is the better choice. ## Common questions ### Will gravel blow away in Redcar? Fine shingle can. Heavier angular stone in grids stays put. ### How do I stop weeds? A membrane under the gravel and an occasional rake and top-up. ### Is gravel noisy? Yes, a little, which some people like for security. ### Can I use gravel on a slope? Only gentle ones, and with grids. ### How often does it need topping up? Every year or two, depending on use. --- # Dropped kerbs in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/dropped-kerbs/ A driveway crossing protects the footway and your car's suspension. In Redcar it has to be applied for through the council, and the work is done by the council or contractors it approves. In short: In Redcar, the property owner applies online to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for a dropped kerb. The council assesses the site and prices the crossing individually rather than publishing a fixed fee. The crossing is built by the council or its approved contractors, and we finish the drive to meet it. ## How to apply Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's dropped kerbs page explains that a driveway crossing is needed for vehicle access, to prevent damage to both the footway and the vehicle. The application form **should be completed by the property owner**. In outline: 1. **Check your frontage** is deep enough to park without overhanging the footway. 2. **Apply online** to the council as the owner. 3. **The council assesses** the site and gives a price. Crossings are priced on application, not from a fixed list. 4. **Accept and pay**, and the crossing is built by the council or its approved contractors. 5. **Build or finish your drive** to meet the new crossing. ## Why a driveway firm cannot just do it Work on the public footway is highway work. A driveway firm that is not approved by the council cannot legally lower the kerb, and unauthorised work can be removed. Ask anyone offering "kerb included" how it will be authorised. ## What affects approval - Enough depth to park clear of the footway. - Visibility for drivers and pedestrians. - Nearby junctions, crossings, bus stops and street trees. - Lamp posts, signs and utility covers that may need moving. - Whether the road is classified, which can also need planning permission. ## Costs Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council prices each crossing after its site assessment, rather than publishing a fixed fee. The width, a grass verge, and any lamp post, sign or utility cover that has to move all change the figure. We wait for the council's price before we finalise the drive quote, so the two fit together. ## Planning ahead Apply for the crossing **before** committing to a new drive. If it is refused, you are left with parking you cannot legally use. Our dropped kerb steps guide sets out a timeline. ## Crossings on different Redcar streets The practical questions vary by street. In Dormanstown and on the Lakes Estate, many crossings must span a grass verge as well as the footway, which adds length and cost. In Newcomen and Coatham, short front gardens mean the first check is whether a car fits at all. On busier routes such as West Dyke Road, visibility and pedestrian safety get extra attention. In newer parts of Wheatlands, most homes already have a crossing and the question is usually widening it. Knowing which situation applies to you helps set expectations before you apply. ## Common questions ### Who can apply? The property owner. Tenants need the owner to apply or agree. ### Is there a fixed fee? No. The council prices each crossing individually. ### Can I use ramps instead? Kerb ramps left in the road are an obstruction and are not a substitute for a proper crossing. ### Who builds it? Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council or its approved contractors. ### Does widening need an application too? Yes. Widening an existing crossing goes through the same process. --- # Driveway repairs in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/driveway-repairs/ Sea air, blown sand and winter storms are hard on a drive. The good news is that many of the problems they cause, from empty joints to a puddle by the door, are surface faults that can be repaired rather than replaced. In short: In Redcar, the most common driveway repairs are re-sanding block paving joints that have been scoured out, lifting and re-laying sunken areas, patching or resurfacing worn tarmac and clearing or adding drainage. A repair is worth doing when the base is firm. Widespread dips, rocking blocks or cracks that keep returning mean the base has failed, and a new drive will last longer. ## What coastal conditions do to a drive Near the seafront, wind-blown sand works into joints and gullies, and rain and spray wash joint sand out again. Close to the shore the ground is often sandy and drains well; further inland it tends towards clay, which holds water. Both affect how a drive ages. Our coastal driveways guide covers this in more detail. ## Repair or rebuild? **Usually repairable:** - Joints that have lost their sand, with weeds or moss growing in them. - A single sunken area, often by an inspection cover or in the wheel tracks. - Tarmac that is faded and stony but still level. - A blocked channel drain or a puddle at one low spot. **Usually means rebuilding:** - Dips across most of the drive. - Blocks or slabs that rock when you stand on them. - Cracks that open up again soon after they are filled. ## Block paving Sunken blocks are lifted, the cause is found (a soft spot, leaking drain or old trench), the base is rebuilt and compacted, the sand bed is relaid and the same blocks are put back and compacted. Joints are then refilled with kiln-dried sand. On exposed streets, a joint stabilising sealer can help keep the sand in place. Builder-laid drives in Wheatlands and other newer estates often sink in the wheel tracks within a few years. See block paving. ## Tarmac Potholes are cut back square, cleaned, tack-coated and filled with hot material, then rolled and sealed at the joints. A worn but stable drive can take a new surface course over the top, provided the finished level stays at least 150mm below the damp-proof course. Cracked or sunken tarmac over a poor base will not be fixed by an overlay. See tarmac driveways. ## Gravel and resin Gravel drives near the coast lose stones to wind and feet. Topping up, re-edging and laying a stabilising grid keep them in place. A solid apron at the entrance keeps stones off the footway. See gravel driveways. Resin can be patched in small areas, but an exact colour match is difficult, and cracks usually come from the base. Choose UV-stable resin if any area is relaid. See resin driveways. ## Drainage and the rules Puddles are often the first sign of a problem. Clearing a blocked channel, re-levelling a section or adding a soakaway can stop water undermining the base. Replacing a whole front drive counts as a new hard surface: in England, more than 5m² of impermeable surface draining onto the road needs planning permission. In the Coatham conservation area, check with the council before changing a frontage. If the dropped kerb or footway outside is broken, report it to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which looks after the highway. See dropped kerbs. ## Common questions ### Why do the joints in my block paving keep emptying? Wind, rain and pressure washing all scour out joint sand. Refilling with kiln-dried sand, and a stabilising sealer on exposed drives, helps it stay put. ### Can a sunken patch be fixed without new blocks? Usually. The same blocks are lifted, the base is made good and they are relaid. ### Is it worth resurfacing old tarmac? Yes, if it is worn but still level and firm. Not if it is sinking or cracked right through. ### Who repairs the pavement in front of my drive? Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, as the highway authority. --- # Areas we cover in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/areas/ Redcar packs a lot of variety into one postcode district, from seafront terraces to a 1920s garden village and modern cul-de-sacs. Each page below covers the homes and driveway questions typical of that neighbourhood. In short: We cover Redcar (TS10), with local pages for Coatham, Dormanstown, Kirkleatham, Newcomen, Zetland, West Dyke, the Lakes Estate and Wheatlands. All are in Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's area, so the same dropped kerb application process applies everywhere, while conservation areas such as Coatham and Kirkleatham bring extra planning care. ## Redcar neighbourhoods - Coatham: Victorian seaside streets west of the town centre, with a conservation area. - Dormanstown: the garden village begun in 1917 for steelworkers, with wide verges. - Kirkleatham: the large ward of mixed housing in south Redcar, plus the historic village and its conservation area. - Newcomen: a mostly semi-detached ward south of the railway around Mersey Road and Thames Road. - Zetland: east Redcar around Zetland Park and Coast Road, where nearly three-quarters of homes are semis. - West Dyke: owner-occupied semis and detached homes along Redcar Lane, near the racecourse. - Lakes Estate: post-war estate off West Dyke Road with streets named after lakes. - Wheatlands: mostly detached homes on Redcar's southern edge, near the A174. ## One council, one process Every address above is covered by **Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council**. The property owner applies for a dropped kerb, and the council assesses the site before a crossing is built. ## Conservation areas The borough has 17 conservation areas, including Coatham and Kirkleatham. In conservation areas, works that change the character of a frontage, such as removing a wall or felling a tree, need more care, and the council advises contacting its Development Management team before starting. ## Ground and weather Streets nearer the shore tend to be sandier and more exposed. Inland, clay is more common and drains more slowly. Either way, a proper sub-base and a drainage plan matter. Our coastal driveways guide covers the seaside specifics. ## Common questions ### Do you cover Redcar town centre? Yes, homes in and around the centre are covered. ### Is the dropped kerb process different in each area? No. It is the same council process everywhere in Redcar. ### Are there conservation areas in Redcar? Yes, including Coatham and Kirkleatham. Check the council's maps for your address. --- # Driveways in Coatham URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/areas/coatham/ Coatham is the seaside quarter on the west side of Redcar town centre, between Coatham Road, the promenade and the railway. Its terraces and flats sit close to the street, so a driveway here is often a small parking space, and in the conservation area it has to fit a protected street scene. In short: Off-road parking is possible on some Coatham frontages, but it needs enough depth to park clear of the pavement and Redcar and Cleveland Council's approval for a dropped kerb, applied for by the property owner. Inside the Coatham conservation area, check with the council's planning team before removing a front wall or railings. We measure the depth first, because it decides whether a space is possible at all. ## Coatham's terraces, flats and seafront streets Coatham began as a separate fishing hamlet west of Redcar and was later joined to the town by Victorian streets. Today the area runs from **High Street West** and **Coatham Road** out towards the golf links and the beach, with **Lobster Road**, **Majuba Road** and **Locke Park**, with its boating lake, among the local landmarks. Listed buildings in and around the area include **Christ Church** (Grade II), the Grade II* **Red Barns**, built for the Bell family, and **Redcar Central** station. The 2021 Census shows how different Coatham is from the rest of Redcar. The **Coatham** ward had 2,405 households: **40% terraced** houses, **35% flats** (purpose-built or converted), 22% semi-detached and only 4% detached. Some 42% of households had no car or van, the highest share of any Redcar ward, and 18% had two or more. Half of homes were owner-occupied. For a driveway, that means: - **Short front gardens.** Many terraces have a yard or garden only a few metres deep, behind a brick wall or railings. - **Flats and shared frontages.** In converted houses and blocks, the front garden is usually shared, so every owner, or the freeholder, has to agree. - **Back lanes.** Some streets have rear lanes where a gate and hardstanding can be easier than the front. - **Busy kerbside parking** on streets such as Coatham Road, which the council weighs when it looks at a new crossing. ## Sand underfoot and the sea nearby The British Geological Survey maps central Coatham on **blown sand** over **Redcar Mudstone**. Sand drains quickly, which helps permeable surfaces, but it is loose. A drive needs a well-compacted Type 1 sub-base on a geotextile membrane, and edge restraints set in concrete so blocks or gravel cannot creep. Wind can carry sand into joints, so jointing that resists washing out is worth paying for close to the beach. The Environment Agency's flood map puts this part of Coatham in **Flood Zone 1** at the point checked, but there are mapped Flood Zone 3 areas within about 300 metres towards the coast and low ground. Check your own address on the flood map for planning, and keep rainwater on your land with a permeable surface or a soakaway rather than draining onto the road. ## The conservation area and the council **Coatham conservation area.** The council designated Coatham, originally as the Redcar Conservation Area, on 13 October 1982. It covers the old hamlet around High Street West, with its small fishermen's cottages, and the Victorian terraces to the south and east towards Kirkleatham Street. A council briefing lists it as "at risk", and a draft Coatham Conservation Area Management Plan went to public consultation in 2026, alongside a revised appraisal. In practice, front walls, railings and gardens are part of what the council wants to keep, so speak to its planning team before taking any of them out. A listed building needs listed building consent for changes to its setting. **Planning outside the conservation area.** For houses, a permeable front drive, or one that drains to a lawn or border, does not need planning permission. Over five square metres of hard surface draining to the road does. Flats have no permitted development rights for front-garden paving. **The dropped kerb.** Redcar and Cleveland Council says a driveway crossing is needed for vehicle access, to stop damage to the footway and to vehicles. The property owner completes the council's online application. The council does not publish a fee on that page. Expect it to check that a parked car will not hang over the footway, and to look at junctions, visibility and street furniture. Our dropped kerbs page explains the steps. ## Fitting a car into a Coatham frontage A single parking space in front of a terrace is often 12 to 15m², smaller than a typical suburban drive. On a plot that tight, the work is mostly about the edges: how much of the front wall or railings has to go, how the new surface meets the house and the footway, and where rain will run once the soil is covered. Small jobs also carry the same fixed set-up as big ones, from the skip to the compactor, so the size of the space is not the only thing that shapes the price. Rebuilding or shortening a front wall, re-setting railings and the crossing itself all come on top of the surface. Redcar and Cleveland Council prices each crossing after assessing the site, so we wait for that figure before quoting the full job. In the conservation area, clay pavers or setts that match the street often suit better than plain concrete blocks; see block paving, resin driveways and our guide to driveways near the coast. ## Nearby areas - Newcomen: just south across the railway, with more semis and deeper front gardens. - Dormanstown: to the west, the garden village built for Dorman Long's steelworkers. - Zetland: on the other side of the town centre, with inter-war semis near the seafront. See every area on our areas page. ## Questions people ask in Coatham ### Can I make a parking space in front of my Coatham terrace? Sometimes. Measure from the house or bay to the back of the footway: you generally need around 5 metres or more so a car does not overhang it. Then the property owner applies to Redcar and Cleveland Council for a dropped kerb. In the conservation area, check with planning before removing a wall or railings. ### Is my street in the Coatham conservation area? The conservation area covers the old hamlet around High Street West and the Victorian terraces to the south and east. The council publishes the Coatham appraisal and a boundary map on its conservation area page, and its planning team can confirm a specific address. ### Does blown sand cause problems for a drive near the beach? It can. Sand drains well but shifts, so a drive needs a proper compacted sub-base, a membrane and edges set in concrete. Windblown sand also gets into joints, so choose jointing that resists washing out and sweep it off regularly. ### I live in a flat. Can I have a drive? Flats have no permitted development rights to pave front gardens, so a planning application is usually needed, and shared gardens need the freeholder's and other owners' agreement. A shared rear parking area is sometimes more realistic. --- # Driveways in Dormanstown URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/areas/dormanstown/ Dormanstown is the planned estate on Redcar's western edge that Dorman Long began building for its steelworkers in 1917. Its semis sit behind front gardens and grass verges laid out as a garden village, which gives many homes room for a drive, though few were built with one. In short: Most Dormanstown semis have a front garden deep enough to park on. You need Redcar and Cleveland Council's approval for a dropped kerb, which the property owner applies for, and a landlord's written consent if you rent. A permeable surface, or one draining to the garden, avoids planning permission. ## A steelworks garden village Building started in 1917 to house workers at the Dorman Long iron and steelworks, at a time when the works needed more labour for wartime munitions. The first 300 houses were designed by the architects **Stanley Adshead, Stanley Ramsey and Patrick Abercrombie** and laid out as a garden village, and three streets carry their names. By 1920 there was housing for 342 families. The layout centres on **The Green**, framed by **Broadway East** and **Broadway West**, with **South Avenue** along its southern side. Later streets, such as **Eskdale Road**, **Boulby Road** and **Staintondale Avenue**, carry North York Moors and coast names. Two listed buildings stand out. **Dormans Crescent**, twenty cottages built in 1931, is Grade II listed and described as the first homes in England built for local senior citizens. **Westfield House**, the only house here before the village was built, is also Grade II. The early steel-framed "Dorlonco" houses, made with Dorman Long steel, were demolished in 1979. The 2021 Census for the **Dormanstown** ward counted 2,105 households: **67% semi-detached**, 20% terraced, 10% flats and 4% detached. About a third (33%) had no car or van, and 26% had two or more. Some 51% were owner-occupied, so nearly half of homes were rented. What that means on the ground: - **Front lawns rather than drives.** Garden-village semis were planned for a mostly car-free workforce, so parking usually means converting a lawn. - **Grass verges** between pavement and road on many streets. A crossing has to span the verge as well as the footway. - **Hedges and low boundaries** that give the estate its green look; keeping part of the hedge or a planted strip helps both drainage and appearance. - **Rented homes**, where the landlord's permission comes first. ## Clay ground, ditches and surface water The British Geological Survey maps Dormanstown on glacial **till**, a dense stony clay, over **Redcar Mudstone**. Clay holds water, so soakaways need to be sized for slow ground, and a drive needs a sub-base on a membrane and a fall away from the house. The farmland to the south was drained with a grid of ditches that run towards the Tees at Dabholm, and some of those ditches remain at Foxrush Farm Community Woodland, the 45-hectare woodland planted in 1997 on Dormanstown's southern edge. The Environment Agency's flood map shows the point checked near South Avenue in **Flood Zone 1**, though small Flood Zone 2 and 3 areas are mapped within about 300 metres. Look up your own address before you build, and plan where rainwater will go. ## Kerbs, verges and permission **Landlord.** If you rent, get written consent from your landlord or housing association before anything else. **Planning.** Dormanstown has no conservation area. For houses, a permeable front drive, or one draining onto the garden, needs no planning permission; more than five square metres of impermeable surface draining to the road does. Dormans Crescent and Westfield House are listed, so changes there need listed building consent. **The crossing.** Redcar and Cleveland Council says a driveway crossing protects the footway and vehicles, and its online application must be completed by the property owner. The council does not publish a fee on its dropped kerb page. Where there is a verge, the crossing is longer, and the council will check for trees, lamp columns, junctions and visibility. Never put ramps or blocks in the gutter to get over a kerb; our dropped kerbs page explains the proper route. ## Turning a Dormanstown front lawn into a drive Converting a semi's front lawn into a single space with room to open doors usually takes about 18 to 22m². The garden-village semis were laid out with generous fronts, so depth is rarely the problem; the questions are what the old lawn hides and how far the new surface has to slope to shed water. We lift a test patch of turf at the survey to see how deep the topsoil goes before the sub-base can start. Lifting turf and topsoil and taking it away is part of the job, and so is the crossing. A verge crossing usually involves more highway work than a footway-only one, and Redcar and Cleveland Council sets that price after its own assessment. Gravel driveways and tarmac are the usual budget choices; our Redcar driveway cost guide explains what changes a quote. ## Nearby areas - Coatham: to the east, with Victorian terraces and a conservation area by the sea. - Kirkleatham: to the south-east, with mixed estates and the historic Kirkleatham village beyond. - Newcomen: to the east, where most homes are semi-detached and more are owner-occupied. All areas are listed on our areas page. ## Questions people ask in Dormanstown ### Can I park on my Dormanstown front garden? Usually, if there is room to park clear of the footway. The owner must apply to Redcar and Cleveland Council for a dropped kerb, tenants need their landlord's consent, and a permeable surface avoids a planning application. ### There is a grass verge outside. Does that stop a crossing? Not usually, but it makes the crossing longer and dearer, and the council checks trees, lamp columns and sight lines in the verge. Apply before you build the drive, so you know the crossing will be allowed. ### Is Dormanstown a conservation area? No. Dormanstown has no conservation area, but Dormans Crescent and Westfield House are Grade II listed buildings, and work affecting them needs listed building consent. ### What surface copes with Dormanstown's clay? Gravel in a grid, permeable block paving or resin bound on an open-graded base can all work if the base is designed for slow-draining clay. Otherwise, lay a sealed surface with a fall to a lawn, border or soakaway. --- # Driveways in Kirkleatham URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/areas/kirkleatham/ Kirkleatham means two different things in Redcar. The Kirkleatham ward is the southern side of town, around Mapleton Crescent, Larkswood Road and the southern end of West Dyke Road. Kirkleatham village, south of the A174, is a protected estate village of listed buildings. Driveway rules differ sharply between the two. In short: On the Kirkleatham estates, a permeable front drive needs no planning permission, but a new or wider dropped kerb needs Redcar and Cleveland Council's approval, applied for by the owner. In Kirkleatham village, a conservation area since 1970 with many listed buildings, speak to the council's planning team first. ## Two Kirkleathams **The Kirkleatham ward** covers housing on Redcar's southern side, including **Mapleton Crescent**, **Larkswood Road**, **Dalby Close**, **Meadway** and parts of **Roseberry Road** and **West Dyke Road**, where bungalows, semis, short terraces and low-rise flats sit side by side. It is the largest of Redcar's wards by households. **Kirkleatham village** lies to the south-west, beyond the A174. Despite the name, the ONS postcode directory places the village in the Dormanstown ward. It is an old estate village: **Sir William Turner's Hospital**, almshouses built in 1674 to 1676, is Grade I listed, and around 27 listed buildings and structures stand in and around the village, including the Grade I **Church of St Cuthbert**, a Grade II* gatehouse, two Grade II* bastions, one with a ha-ha wall, and listed gatepiers and garden walls. The Old Hall is now Kirkleatham Museum. The 2021 Census for the **Kirkleatham** ward counted 3,446 households, the most of any Redcar ward, and the mix is varied: **35% semi-detached**, **33% terraced**, 22% detached and 10% flats. Some 34% of households had no car or van and 25% had two or more. Only 48% were owner-occupied, the lowest share in Redcar, so many homes are rented. On the estates that means: - **Side drives** on semis and bungalows that are too narrow for today's cars and need widening. - **Terraces with front gardens** where a lawn could become a parking space. - **Open-plan fronts** on some streets, where neighbours share a strip of grass and agreement helps. - **Rented homes** where the landlord must agree before work starts. ## Clay ground and drainage The British Geological Survey maps the Kirkleatham estates on glacial **till**, a dense clay, over **Redcar Mudstone**. Water drains slowly through clay, so a new drive needs a properly compacted sub-base on a membrane and a fall away from the house, with water going to a border, lawn or a soakaway designed for clay. The Environment Agency's flood map shows the area around Mapleton Crescent in **Flood Zone 1**, with no river or sea flood zone within about 400 metres. Heavy rain on clay is the main risk, which is why permeable surfaces, or drains into the garden, are worth the extra effort. ## Permission on the estates and in the village **Estates: planning.** For houses, a permeable front drive, or one that drains within the garden, does not need planning permission. Over five square metres of impermeable surface draining to the road does. Flats have no such rights. **Village: conservation area.** Teesside County Borough Council designated the Kirkleatham conservation area on 9 April 1970 for its high-status historic estate village and wooded parkland setting. A recent council briefing describes it as "vulnerable". Walls, trees and the setting of listed buildings matter here, so ask the council's planning team before any work, and expect listed building consent to be needed for anything that touches a listed structure. **The crossing.** Widening a drive usually means widening the dropped kerb too. Redcar and Cleveland Council's online application must be completed by the property owner, and the council explains that a crossing protects both footway and vehicles. No fee is published on its page. The council will look at visibility, junctions and street furniture. Our dropped kerb guide for Redcar sets out the steps. ## Widening or replacing a Kirkleatham drive Widening a side drive by one car width usually adds about 12 to 18m². A complete front drive for two cars is often 35 to 40m². On the estates, the deciding factor is usually whether the existing base is worth keeping: a sound base under tired blocks can be re-used, while cracked concrete has to be broken out first. Gravel in a grid is the lowest-cost permeable choice, with tarmac, block paving and resin bound rising from there. Breaking out old concrete and removing it adds to the job, and a new or extended dropped kerb comes on top. Redcar and Cleveland Council assesses each crossing and sets its price, so we build that into the quote once the council has replied. Matching new blocks to an existing drive is easier with a block paving re-lay; see also driveway repairs. ## Nearby areas - Wheatlands: to the east, with newer detached homes and two-car drives. - Newcomen: to the north, a mostly semi-detached ward with many owner-occupiers. - Dormanstown: to the west, the garden village built by Dorman Long. See all areas on our areas page. ## Questions people ask in Kirkleatham ### Is my Kirkleatham home in the conservation area? Only if it is in or around Kirkleatham village, south of the A174. The housing estates in the Kirkleatham ward are not in the conservation area. The council's appraisal includes a boundary map, and the planning team can confirm an address. ### Can I widen my side drive in Kirkleatham? Usually, yes. A permeable surface avoids planning permission for a house, but a wider opening means applying to Redcar and Cleveland Council to extend the dropped kerb. Tenants need their landlord's consent first. ### What surface suits Kirkleatham's clay? Permeable block paving, gravel in a grid or resin bound on an open base can work if the base is built for slow-draining clay. Otherwise, use a sealed surface laid to fall towards a lawn, border or soakaway. ### Do I need consent to change a drive near Turner's Hospital? Very likely. Sir William Turner's Hospital is Grade I listed and the village is a conservation area, so changes affecting its setting need early advice from the council and may need listed building consent. --- # Driveways in Newcomen URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/areas/newcomen/ Newcomen is the Redcar ward south of the railway around Mersey Road, Thames Road and Oxendale Road, taking in the Lakes Estate. It is mostly semi-detached, and with almost a third of households now running two or more cars, the usual question here is how to fit a second car off the street. In short: In Newcomen, a permeable front drive for a house needs no planning permission, but a new or wider dropped kerb needs Redcar and Cleveland Council's approval, applied for by the property owner. Measure first: a car needs about 5 metres of depth clear of the footway. ## Newcomen's streets Newcomen lies between the railway line and Redcar's southern estates, west of Redcar Lane and east of Kirkleatham Lane. Several of its streets are named after rivers, among them **Mersey Road** and **Thames Road**, while **Oxendale Road** and **Ayton Drive** follow other naming themes. The ward includes the Lakes Estate around Buttermere Road, and schools such as **Newcomen Primary** and **Outwood Academy Redcar** sit within easy reach. Housing ranges from semis with long front gardens to townhouses on Mersey Road. At the 2021 Census the **Newcomen** ward had 2,208 households: **63% semi-detached**, 25% terraced, 9% detached and 4% flats. A quarter (25%) had no car or van, while **31% had two or more**. Some 65% of homes were owner-occupied. Typical frontages in Newcomen: - **Single drives beside a semi** that take one car, where the owner wants room for two. - **Front lawns** that could become parking, especially on terraces and older semis. - **Townhouses** with short frontages, where depth is the limiting factor. - **Shared boundaries** with a neighbour's drive, where levels and edging need agreeing. ## The ground beneath Newcomen The British Geological Survey maps central Newcomen on glacial **till**, a dense clay, over **Redcar Mudstone**. On clay, water lies on the surface instead of draining away. Drives need a compacted Type 1 sub-base on a membrane, a fall away from the house, and a destination for rainwater: a lawn, border, soakaway designed for clay, or a permeable surface with a deep enough base. The Environment Agency's flood map shows the centre of the ward, near Oxendale Road, in **Flood Zone 1**, with no river or sea flood zone within about 400 metres. Low-lying land near the coast and railway is different, so check your own address before you build. ## Permission and the dropped kerb **Planning.** Newcomen has no conservation area. For a house, a permeable front drive, or one draining into the garden, is permitted development. Laying more than five square metres of impermeable surface that drains to the road needs planning permission. Flats and maisonettes need permission for any front-garden hardstanding. **Widening the crossing.** Going from one car to two usually means extending the dropped kerb. Redcar and Cleveland Council says a crossing is needed for vehicle access to protect the footway and the vehicle, and its online application must be completed by the property owner. It publishes no fee on that page. Expect the council to look at the depth of the space, nearby junctions, visibility and street furniture such as lamp columns. Our Redcar dropped kerb guide walks through it. **Depth.** As a rule of thumb, allow at least 5 metres from the house, bay or porch to the back of the footway for a car, more for a larger vehicle. If the space is shorter, the council is unlikely to approve the crossing, and a car overhanging the footway blocks it for pushchairs and wheelchairs. ## Adding a second car space in Newcomen Adding a second space beside an existing single drive is usually about 15m². Replacing the whole front with a two-car drive is often around 35m². Extending is the smaller job, but the new section has to match the old one in level, edging and finish, which is easier with block paving than with tarmac. A full replacement lets us start again with one base, one fall and one surface across the whole frontage. Breaking out an old concrete drive, levelling and skip hire all add to the work, and so does extending the dropped kerb, which Redcar and Cleveland Council prices after assessing the site. Block paving is easy to extend to match; resin suits a full resurface on a sound base. See our driveway repairs page for re-laying a sunken drive. ## Nearby areas - Lakes Estate: within the ward, where post-war semis usually need a lawn conversion. - Coatham: north across the railway, with terraces, flats and a conservation area. - West Dyke: to the east beyond Redcar Lane, with more detached homes. Every area we cover is on our areas page. ## Questions people ask in Newcomen ### Can I widen my Newcomen drive for a second car? Usually. A permeable surface avoids planning permission for a house, but you will need Redcar and Cleveland Council to approve extending the dropped kerb. The property owner makes the application. ### How deep does my front garden need to be? Allow at least 5 metres from the house, bay or porch to the back of the footway for an average car. If you are short, the council is unlikely to approve a crossing, so measure before you pay for any design. ### Is there a conservation area in Newcomen? No. Newcomen has no conservation area, so the standard permitted development rules for front gardens apply to houses. Coatham, just across the railway, does have one. ### What is the cheapest way to add parking? Gravel in a stabilising grid is usually cheapest per square metre and is permeable. Tarmac comes next. The dropped kerb is often a large part of the total, so get the council's assessment early. --- # Driveways in Zetland URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/areas/zetland/ Zetland is the east Redcar ward between the town centre and Redcar East station, around Zetland Park, Coast Road and streets named after trees such as Laburnum Road and Hawthorn Road. Nearly three-quarters of its homes are semi-detached, and most driveway jobs here are about replacing or widening an older drive. In short: For a Zetland semi, widening or replacing a drive with a permeable surface needs no planning permission, but a new or wider dropped kerb needs Redcar and Cleveland Council's approval, applied for by the property owner. Parts of the ward are near mapped flood zones, so check your address first. ## Zetland's semis and streets Zetland shares its name with Redcar's famous lifeboat. Built in 1802 by Henry Greathead of South Shields and named after the Earl of Zetland, the local lord of the manor, the **Zetland** is the oldest surviving lifeboat in the world. It is on show in the Grade II listed **Zetland Lifeboat Museum and Redcar Heritage Centre** on the Esplanade, a short walk north-west of the ward. The ward itself is residential. **Coast Road (the A1085)** runs along its seaward side towards **Redcar East station**, with tree-named streets such as **Laburnum Road** and **Hawthorn Road** inland, and **Zetland Park** as the local green space. Houses are mostly brick semis with front gardens and drives of varying ages. The 2021 Census for the **Zetland** ward counted 1,982 households: **73% semi-detached**, the highest share of any Redcar ward, with 23% terraced, 3% detached and just 1% flats. About 22% had no car or van and 32% had two or more. Some 73% were owner-occupied. Typical Zetland frontages: - **Single drives beside semis**, many originally concrete, which have cracked or settled. - **Front gardens** wide enough to add a second space with a wider crossing. - **Shared boundaries** between pairs of semis, where levels, edging and drainage need agreeing. - **Terraced rows** where a front lawn could become a single parking space. ## Clay ground and flood zones The British Geological Survey maps Zetland on glacial **till**, a dense clay, over **Redcar Mudstone**. Clay drains slowly, so a drive needs a compacted stone sub-base on a geotextile membrane, laid to fall away from the house, with rainwater sent to a lawn, a border or a soakaway designed for clay. The Environment Agency's flood map shows several Flood Zone 3 and Flood Zone 2 areas within about 400 metres of the ward centre (postcode TS10 3NS). That does not mean every house is at risk, but it is a good reason to look up your address on the flood map for planning and to avoid adding sealed surface that drains into the road. ## Permission and the crossing **Planning.** Zetland has no conservation area. For a house, a permeable front drive, or one draining into the garden, does not need planning permission. Over five square metres of impermeable surface draining to the road does. Flats need permission for front-garden hardstanding. **The dropped kerb.** Widening a drive usually means widening the crossing as well. Redcar and Cleveland Council says a crossing is needed for vehicle access to protect both the footway and vehicles, and its online form is for the property owner to complete. The council does not publish a fee on that page. It checks the space is deep enough for a car not to overhang the footway and looks at junctions, sight lines and street furniture. On Coast Road, a main road, expect more scrutiny of visibility. Our dropped kerbs page explains the steps. **Neighbours.** On a pair of semis, talk to next door before changing levels at the shared boundary, and keep water draining onto your own land. ## Sizing a Zetland drive A replacement single drive beside a semi is often 20 to 25m². A two-car frontage is usually 30 to 35m². Tarmac and block paving are the usual like-for-like swaps for a tired drive, resin bound suits a two-car front where a smooth, porous finish matters, and gravel in a grid is the lowest-cost permeable option. Whatever the surface, near the flood zones we pay extra attention to where the water goes. Breaking out old concrete, disposal, new edgings and drainage channels are all part of the job. Widening the crossing comes on top, and the council's assessment sets that figure in Redcar. For homes near the sea, our coastal driveways guide covers salt and wind; for a like-for-like swap see tarmac or block paving. ## Nearby areas - West Dyke: to the west, with more detached homes and Redcar Racecourse. - Wheatlands: to the south, with modern detached houses and double drives. - Coatham: beyond the town centre, with Victorian terraces and a conservation area. Browse all areas on our areas page. ## Questions people ask in Zetland ### Can I widen my Zetland drive for a second car? Usually. A permeable surface avoids planning permission for a house, and the property owner then applies to Redcar and Cleveland Council to extend the dropped kerb. Measure first so the space is deep enough for a car not to overhang the footway. ### Is Zetland at risk of flooding? Some parts of the ward are near mapped Flood Zone 2 and 3 areas. Check your own address on the Environment Agency's flood map, and use a permeable surface or drainage into the garden so a new drive does not add runoff. ### Is it worth replacing an old concrete drive? If slabs have cracked, rocked or sunk, replacing on a new base usually lasts far longer than patching. A resin overlay only suits a sound base, so lifting a test section first is sensible. ### Does a drive on Coast Road need different approval? The same dropped kerb application applies, but on a main road the council looks harder at visibility and how cars will pull in and out. Turning space within the drive can help. --- # Driveways in West Dyke URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/areas/west-dyke/ West Dyke is the ward on the south-east side of Redcar town centre, running along Redcar Lane past Redcar Racecourse and Borough Park. Almost four in five homes are owner-occupied and more than a third of households run two or more cars, so most driveway work here is widening or replacing an existing drive. In short: Widening a West Dyke drive with a permeable surface needs no planning permission for a house, but a wider dropped kerb needs Redcar and Cleveland Council's approval, applied for by the property owner. Replacing a tired drive on the same footprint usually needs no permission at all. ## West Dyke's homes West Dyke has been a Redcar ward name since at least the 1961 Census. The modern ward takes its name from West Dyke Road, though much of that road runs through neighbouring wards. Its spine is **Redcar Lane (the B1269)**, and the ONS postcode directory places **Redcar Racecourse** inside the ward. Residential streets include **Aintree Road**, **Warwick Road**, **Raby Road**, **Castle Road**, **Berwick Walk** and **Borough Road**, near the entrance to **Borough Park** and Redcar Cemetery. The 2021 Census shows a settled, owner-occupied ward. **West Dyke** had 2,725 households: **56% semi-detached**, 22% terraced, **20% detached** and just 2% flats. Some **79% were owner-occupied**, second only to Wheatlands among Redcar wards. Only 20% of households had no car or van, while **36% had two or more**. Common West Dyke frontages: - **Side drives to a garage** that has become too narrow for today's cars, or is now used for storage. - **Older concrete or tarmac drives** that have cracked, sunk or been patched over the years. - **Detached homes** with a lawn beside the drive that could be paved for a second car. - **Corner plots** where the crossing position and sight lines need care. ## Clay ground and nearby flood zones The British Geological Survey maps West Dyke on glacial **till**, a dense clay, over **Redcar Mudstone**. Clay drains slowly, so the base matters. A replacement drive should be dug out to a firm formation, laid on a membrane with a compacted Type 1 sub-base, and finished with a fall that sends water to a border, lawn or soakaway rather than to the house or the road. The Environment Agency's flood map shows mapped Flood Zone 2 and 3 areas within about 400 metres of the ward centre (postcode TS10 2ER). Before widening a drive across a lawn, check your own address on the flood map and avoid adding sealed surface that runs off into the street. ## Permission and the kerb **Planning.** West Dyke has no conservation area. For a house, a permeable drive, or one draining to the garden, is permitted development. More than five square metres of impermeable surface draining to the road needs planning permission. Replacing an existing drive like for like rarely needs any. **Widening the dropped kerb.** A two-car drive needs a wide enough crossing. Redcar and Cleveland Council explains that a crossing protects the footway and vehicles, and its online application must be completed by the property owner. No fee is published on its page. On busier routes such as Redcar Lane, expect visibility and nearby junctions to be weighed carefully. Our dropped kerbs page covers the process. **Garages.** If you plan to convert an integral garage into a room, check whether it affects parking conditions in the original planning permission. ## Widening or replacing a West Dyke drive Widening a side drive by one car width is usually 12 to 18m². Replacing a full two-car frontage is often 35 to 45m². A widening keeps the old drive and adds a strip, so the join has to be invisible and the levels must still carry water away from the house. A full replacement is the moment to fix a poor base, swap an impermeable surface for a permeable one, or add a channel drain across the front. Breaking out old concrete and disposal add to the bill, as do new edgings and drainage channels. Extending the dropped kerb comes on top, and the council's own assessment fixes that price in Redcar. Compare resin and block paving before you choose, and see driveway repairs if the drive only needs re-laying. ## Nearby areas - Zetland: to the east, towards the seafront and Zetland Park. - Wheatlands: to the south, with modern detached homes and double drives. - Lakes Estate: to the west, where post-war semis often need a lawn conversion. See every area on our areas page. ## Questions people ask in West Dyke ### Can I widen my West Dyke drive without planning permission? For a house outside a conservation area, yes, if the new surface is permeable or drains into the garden. You still need Redcar and Cleveland Council's approval to extend the dropped kerb, applied for by the property owner. ### My concrete drive is cracked. Should I resurface or replace it? If the base has sunk or the slabs move, replacing is usually better value. A resin overlay only works on a sound, stable base. A contractor can check the base by lifting a section. ### Is West Dyke at risk of flooding? Parts of the ward are close to mapped Flood Zone 2 and 3 areas. Check your address on the Environment Agency's flood map, and choose a permeable surface or drainage into the garden so a new drive does not add runoff. ### Does a drive on Redcar Lane need special approval? The same dropped kerb application applies, but on a busier road the council looks harder at visibility and the position of the crossing. A corner plot may need the opening moved away from the junction. --- # Driveways on the Lakes Estate URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/areas/lakes-estate/ The Lakes Estate is the post-war council-built estate off West Dyke Road whose streets are named after lakes: Buttermere Road, Haweswater Road, Coniston Avenue, Windermere Avenue and Troutbeck Road among them. Its semis were built when few tenants owned cars, so most drives on the estate are later additions. In short: Most Lakes Estate semis have a front garden that can take a car. The property owner applies to Redcar and Cleveland Council for a dropped kerb, tenants need their landlord's consent, and a permeable surface or drainage to the garden avoids planning permission. A single space with room to open the doors is usually around 20m². ## A post-war estate named after lakes The Lakes Estate is one of the Redcar neighbourhoods that does not have its own council ward: the ONS postcode directory puts Buttermere Road (TS10 1LZ) in the **Newcomen** ward. Its street names make it easy to find on a map. Alongside the Lake District names there is **Lucerne Road**, named after the Swiss lake, and the estate has its own school, **Lakes Primary**. A former resident's memoir on the Ridkere website describes his family moving into a brand new council house on **Buttermere Road in 1952**, calling the estate one of Redcar's early post-war housing projects, known for its pink concrete roads and blue street lighting. He recalls Buttermere Road having only eighteen houses and Haweswater Road four, and a double-decker bus terminus on **Windermere Avenue**. The 2021 Census small area that covers Buttermere Road (LSOA Redcar and Cleveland 002B) had 710 households. Of those, **69% were semi-detached**, 27% terraced and just 2% detached. About 28% had no car or van and 30% had two or more. Two-thirds (66%) were owner-occupied, with 21% in social housing and 12% privately rented. What that means for a drive: - **Front lawns, not drives.** Houses built for tenants in the early 1950s rarely had parking, so most jobs start from grass. - **Paths and gates** down the side of semis, which need to stay usable for bins and bikes. - **Neighbours' drives** of different ages and materials, so matching levels at the boundary matters. - **Social tenants**, who need written consent from their landlord before any work. ## Clay soil and rainwater The British Geological Survey maps the estate on glacial **till**, a stiff stony clay, over **Redcar Mudstone**. Clay does not soak up much water. A good drive here has a compacted stone sub-base on a geotextile, a gentle fall away from the house, and a plan for where water ends up: a lawn edge, a border, a soakaway sized for clay, or a permeable surface on a deeper open-graded base. The Environment Agency's flood map shows Buttermere Road in **Flood Zone 1**, with no river or sea flood zone within about 400 metres. Surface water during downpours is the thing to design for. ## Getting the go-ahead **Planning.** There is no conservation area on the estate. For a house, a permeable front drive, or one draining onto the garden, does not need planning permission. A sealed surface of more than five square metres that drains to the road does. **Landlord consent.** Tenants of a housing association or private landlord must get written permission first. **The dropped kerb.** Redcar and Cleveland Council says a crossing is needed for vehicle access to protect the footway and vehicles, and its online application has to be made by the property owner. It does not publish a fee on that page. The council looks at whether a car can park without overhanging the pavement and at nearby junctions and street furniture. Apply before the drive is built. Our dropped kerbs page explains the process. ## Planning a Lakes Estate conversion A single space with room to open doors in front of a semi is often around 18 to 22m². Most Lakes Estate fronts are lawn with a low wall or hedge, so the work starts with lifting turf and topsoil and checking what lies beneath before the stone sub-base goes in. Where a house is rented, the landlord's written consent comes before anything else, because the council will ask for it with the crossing application. The dropped kerb is a separate step: Redcar and Cleveland Council assesses the site and sets the price for the crossing. Keeping a strip of lawn or a border beside the parking space is cheaper than paving the lot and helps drainage. Tarmac and gravel are the usual budget picks; our Redcar cost guide explains what moves a quote. ## Nearby areas - Newcomen: the wider ward around the estate, with more semis around Mersey Road and Thames Road. - West Dyke: to the east along West Dyke Road, with more detached homes and wider drives. - Kirkleatham: to the south, a large ward of mixed bungalows, semis and terraces. All our areas are on the areas page. ## Questions people ask on the Lakes Estate ### Can I turn my Lakes Estate front garden into a drive? Usually. You need enough depth to park without overhanging the pavement, a dropped kerb approved by Redcar and Cleveland Council (the owner applies), and your landlord's consent if you rent. A permeable surface avoids a planning application. ### Who applies for the dropped kerb? The council's form says it should be completed by the property owner. If you rent, your landlord or housing association would need to apply or agree in writing. ### Will a new drive cause flooding on the estate's clay? Not if it is designed properly. Use a permeable surface on a suitable base, or lay a sealed surface to fall towards a lawn, border or soakaway so rainwater stays on your land rather than running into the road. ### Is there anything special about building next to a neighbour's drive? Match the levels at the boundary, keep water from running onto their drive, and agree where the edging goes. On semis, the side path often needs to stay clear for both homes' bins and access. --- # Driveways in Wheatlands URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/areas/wheatlands/ Wheatlands is the most car-dependent part of Redcar: a ward of mostly detached homes on the southern edge of town, between Redcar Lane and the A174, where nearly six in ten households run two or more cars. Most homes already have a drive, so the work is about making it bigger, flatter or longer-lasting. In short: In Wheatlands, re-laying or resurfacing an existing drive usually needs no permission, and widening a house's drive with a permeable surface is permitted development. A wider crossing needs Redcar and Cleveland Council's approval, applied for by the property owner. Check the deeds for any developer covenants on open-plan fronts. ## Wheatlands' homes and streets Wheatlands sits at Redcar's southern edge, with **Redcar Lane**, **Redcar Road** and the **Mickle Dales roundabout** on its edges and the **A174** to the south. Many of its cul-de-sacs carry the names of coastal towns: **Sheerness Way**, **Salcombe Way**, **Torcross Way** and **Holyhead Drive** among them, alongside **Cranbourne Drive**, **Greenstones Road** and **Kirkwood Drive**. **Wheatlands Park**, entered from Redcar Lane, and Wheatlands Primary School are both local landmarks. The 2021 Census sets Wheatlands apart from the rest of Redcar. The **Wheatlands** ward had 2,080 households, of which **67% were detached**, 25% semi-detached, 4% terraced and 3% flats. **85% were owner-occupied**, the highest of any Redcar ward. Only 5% of households had no car or van, while **59% had two or more**. Typical Wheatlands drives: - **Block-paved drives** laid when the houses were built, now showing ruts, dips in the wheel tracks or weeds in the joints. - **Drives for two cars** that families now need to stretch to three, often by paving part of the front lawn. - **Open-plan fronts**, where lawns run between neighbours with no wall or hedge. - **Garages** that have been converted or used for storage, pushing more cars onto the drive. ## Ground and drainage The British Geological Survey maps Wheatlands on glacial **till**, a dense clay, over **Redcar Mudstone**. Many sunken drives on clay estates come down to a thin or poorly compacted sub-base. When re-laying, the fix is to lift the blocks, dig out soft spots, rebuild with compacted Type 1 on a membrane, then re-lay on fresh sharp sand with new edge restraints. The Environment Agency's flood map shows Wheatlands in **Flood Zone 1**, with no river or sea flood zone mapped within a kilometre of the ward centre. Surface water on clay is still worth planning for: keep a fall away from the house and give water somewhere to go, such as a lawn, a border or a soakaway designed for clay. ## Permissions to check **Planning.** Wheatlands has no conservation area. For a house, extending a drive with a permeable surface, or one that drains to the garden, is permitted development. More than five square metres of impermeable surface draining to the road needs planning permission. **Deeds and covenants.** Some newer estates have restrictive covenants on open-plan front gardens, such as limits on walls or hedges. Check your deeds before changing the layout. **The crossing.** If a wider drive needs a wider opening, Redcar and Cleveland Council must approve the extended dropped kerb. Its online form is for the property owner, and the council explains that crossings protect the footway and vehicles. It publishes no fee on that page. Our Redcar dropped kerb guide explains what to expect. ## Re-laying and extending a Wheatlands drive A double drive in Wheatlands is often 35 to 50m², and many were laid in block paving when the houses were built. Where the blocks are sound but the drive has dipped, lifting them, rebuilding the base and re-laying the same blocks usually makes more sense than a new surface. Extending in matching blocks works well too, as long as the new ones come from the same range and colour. Re-laying is labour-heavy, so the work depends on how much of the base needs rebuilding. Widening the crossing comes on top, and Redcar and Cleveland Council's assessment sets that price. For a sunken drive, start with driveway repairs; for a full change, compare block paving with resin. ## Nearby areas - West Dyke: to the north, with owner-occupied semis and detached homes. - Kirkleatham: to the west, a larger ward of mixed housing. - Zetland: to the north-east towards the coast, with inter-war semis. All our areas are on the areas page. ## Questions people ask in Wheatlands ### Why has my Wheatlands block paving sunk in the wheel tracks? On clay ground, ruts usually point to a thin or poorly compacted sub-base. Re-sanding the joints will not fix that. The lasting fix is to lift the blocks, rebuild the base with compacted stone on a membrane and re-lay them. ### Can I extend my drive to fit a third car? For a house, yes, if the new area is permeable or drains to the garden. If the opening also needs to be wider, apply to Redcar and Cleveland Council to extend the dropped kerb. Check your deeds for open-plan covenants first. ### Can new blocks be matched to my existing drive? Often, if the same manufacturer's range is still made. Older blocks weather, so new ones can look brighter for a year or two. Using new blocks at the front and re-laid ones elsewhere, or a contrasting border, helps. ### Is resin a good idea over old block paving? Resin bound needs a sound, stable base. It is not laid directly over loose blocks; usually the blocks come up and a suitable base, such as open-graded tarmac, goes down first. --- # How much does a driveway cost in Redcar? URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/guides/driveway-cost-redcar/ Two quotes for the same Redcar drive can differ by thousands. This guide shows where the money goes, so you can tell a fair price from a corner cut. In short: The cost of a Redcar drive comes down to five things: the surface, the area, how much has to be dug out, how the water is drained and whether you need a new crossing. Gravel is usually the lowest-cost surface and resin bound the highest, with tarmac and block paving between. Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council prices each crossing per site. ## The surface The surface is the part you see and the easiest to compare. Gravel in a stabilising grid is usually the lowest-cost option, tarmac and block paving sit in the middle, and resin bound is usually the dearest. Price is quoted by area, so a 25m² single space and a 60m² frontage for three cars are very different jobs even in the same material. Smaller drives tend to cost more per square metre, because the skip, the machinery and the set-up are the same whatever the size. We would rather not print a price per square metre: national averages ignore what is under your drive, and that is where Redcar jobs differ most. ## Extras that move the price - **Removing an old drive**, especially thick concrete. - **Excavation depth**, which depends on the ground and the surface. - **Drainage**: channel drains, soakaways or a permeable base. - **Edging and borders** in blocks or setts. - **UV-stable resin** for coastal homes, which costs more than standard resin. - **Steps and walls.** - **A new or wider crossing**, priced by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council after it assesses the site. There is no fixed fee, so ask the council for its figure early. ## Coastal considerations that affect cost Near the seafront, spending a little more on UV-stable resin, stainless or aluminium edging and grids for gravel avoids early replacement. That is money well spent. ## Comparing quotes Ask each firm that quotes for the area, excavation depth, sub-base, surface specification, edging, drainage, waste removal and guarantee in writing. A quote missing several of these is not comparable. ## Repairs If your drive is sound underneath, a repair such as re-laying a sunken area or resurfacing worn tarmac can cost much less than a new drive. See driveway repairs. ## Common questions ### What is the cheapest drive? Gravel in a stabilising grid is usually the lowest-cost surface, and it is permeable, so it avoids the front-garden planning rule. ### Is resin worth the extra in Redcar? If you want a smooth, permeable finish and choose a UV-stable resin, it lasts well. ### Is the dropped kerb included in drive quotes? Usually not. The council prices it separately. ### Why do quotes vary so much? Groundwork: excavation, sub-base, drainage and waste. --- # Redcar driveways near the sea: salt, sand and wind URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/guides/coastal-driveways/ A drive a few streets from Redcar beach faces different conditions from one inland. Sea air, blown sand and strong light are all worth designing for. In short: On the coast, choose a UV-stable (aliphatic) resin if you want resin, use aluminium, stainless or concrete edging rather than plain steel, and favour heavy angular gravel or tightly jointed blocks that cope with wind-blown sand. Ground near the seafront is often sandier and drains more freely than inland clay, but a site survey should confirm it. ## Strong light Sunlight reflected off sea and sand can discolour some materials. Aromatic resins may yellow; aliphatic resins are UV-stable. Very dark surfaces get hot in summer; mid-tones stay cooler. ## Salt in the air Salt spray corrodes plain steel. For edging, choose aluminium, stainless steel, concrete kerbs or block borders. Granite setts and concrete kerbs cope well. ## Wind-blown sand On windy days, sand is carried inland from the beach. It collects in corners and joints and can scour soft finishes. - **Block paving:** sand in joints is not a problem as long as joints stay full. - **Resin:** brush or blow sand off before tyres grind it in. - **Gravel:** fine shingle mixes with sand and spreads. Use 14 to 20mm angular stone in grids. - **Design:** avoid deep internal corners, and give surfaces a gentle fall. ## Ground and drainage Close to the shore, ground is often sandier and drains well. Further inland, clay is more common and drains slowly. A percolation test shows how fast water soaks away, which matters for sizing soakaways and for permeable surfaces. ## Surface summary | Surface | Coastal suitability | Watch out for | |---|---|---| | Block paving | Very good | Keep joints topped up | | Resin | Good with UV-stable resin | Cheap aromatic resins | | Tarmac | Good | Edges on exposed sites | | Gravel | Fair with heavy stone and grids | Fine shingle | ## Common questions ### Does salt damage block paving? Concrete blocks are generally durable. Colours may mellow over time. ### Which edging should I use? Concrete, aluminium or stainless steel near the seafront. ### Is my ground sandy or clay? It depends on the street. A survey or percolation test will tell you. ### Should I seal my drive? Sealing block paving joints can help keep sand and stains out. --- # Getting a dropped kerb in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/guides/dropped-kerb-redcar/ The dropped kerb is the part of a new drive you do not control. Getting the order right saves money and avoids building a drive you cannot use. In short: In Redcar, measure your frontage, then have the property owner apply online to Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council. The council assesses the site and prices the crossing individually. Once you accept, the council or its approved contractors build it. Only then should the drive be finished to meet it. ## Step 1: Measure and sketch Measure the depth from the house to the back of the footway, and the width you want. Note any street trees, lamp posts, inspection covers or bus stops near the frontage. These all affect the council's decision. ## Step 2: Owner applies Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council says the dropped kerb application should be completed by the **property owner** (council page). Tenants need the owner to apply. ## Step 3: Site assessment and price The council looks at visibility, safety, the footway and anything in the way. Crossings are priced on application, so there is no fixed fee to look up. ## Step 4: Accept and schedule If you accept the price, the crossing is built by the council or its approved contractors. Driveway firms that are not approved cannot do this part. ## Step 5: Build the drive With the crossing confirmed, the drive can be built to match its level and width. Planning the two together avoids awkward steps and puddles at the back of the footway. ## Budget Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council does not publish a fixed fee for a dropped kerb. It assesses each site and quotes for that crossing, and the figure depends on the width, whether there is a grass verge, and whether lamp posts, covers or signs have to move. Ask for the council's figure before you commit to a drive design, so the two can be planned and budgeted together. ## Mistakes to avoid - Building the drive before the crossing is approved. - Accepting a "kerb included" offer from an unapproved firm. - Leaving ramps in the road, which obstruct the highway. - Forgetting that classified roads may need planning permission too. For the full picture, see dropped kerbs in Redcar. ## Common questions ### How long does it take? It varies. Apply well before you want the drive built. ### Can I appeal a refusal? Ask the council why it was refused. A different position or width may be acceptable. ### Does the crossing belong to me? No. It remains part of the public highway. ### Is planning permission needed? Not usually on unclassified roads, but it can be on classified roads. --- # Resin or block paving for a Redcar drive? URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/guides/resin-vs-block-paving/ These are the two most-requested surfaces in Redcar. Both can last decades, but they suit different houses, budgets and owners. In short: Block paving usually costs a little less than resin bound. It is easier to repair and extend and copes well with wind-blown sand in its joints. Resin gives a smooth, seamless, permeable finish if laid on a porous base, but should be UV-stable near the sea. Choose block for flexibility, resin for looks and drainage. ## At a glance | | Block paving | Resin-bound | |---|---|---| | Relative cost | Usually a little less | Usually a little more | | Permeable? | Only permeable block systems | Yes, on a porous base | | Repairs | Lift and re-lay individual blocks | Patch repairs can show | | Extending later | Easy to match | Harder to blend | | Coastal sand | Fills joints, sweep and top up | Brush off the surface | | UV | Colours mellow | Needs aliphatic resin | | Weeds | Possible in joints | Rare when laid well | | Look | Pattern and texture | Smooth and seamless | ## Choose block paving if - You may extend or alter the drive later. - Utility work under the drive is likely. - You like a patterned, traditional look. - You want straightforward repairs. See block paving in Redcar. ## Choose resin if - You want a smooth, modern finish. - Drainage and the front-garden rule are a concern. - You would rather not deal with weeds in joints. - You will specify a UV-stable resin. See resin driveways in Redcar. ## The house matters Victorian terraces in Coatham often suit clay pavers or tumbled blocks. Rendered and modern houses in Wheatlands or Zetland can look sharp in resin. Garden-village homes in Dormanstown suit warm brindle blocks. ## Common questions ### Which lasts longer? Both can last 20 years or more when laid properly. ### Which is cheaper to maintain? Resin needs less weeding. Block paving is cheaper to repair. ### Can resin go on top of block paving? Not recommended, as blocks move and resin cracks. ### Which drains better? Resin on a porous base. Standard block paving needs a fall to a drain or border. --- # Do you need planning permission for a driveway in Redcar? URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/guides/driveway-planning-permission-redcar/ Most new driveways in Redcar do not need planning permission, but some do, and the difference usually comes down to how the drive handles rainwater, what kind of building you live in and where your street is. Here are the rules in plain terms, with the Redcar specifics. In short: A house does not need planning permission for a new or replacement front drive of any size if it is permeable, such as gravel, permeable block paving or porous resin on a suitable base, or if rainwater runs to a lawn or border. A solid surface of more than five square metres that drains onto the road does need permission. Flats and maisonettes do not have these rights. The dropped kerb is a separate approval from Redcar and Cleveland Council, and conservation areas, listed buildings and classified roads add further checks. ## The national rule: the five square metre test Since 2008, householders in England have needed planning permission to cover more than five square metres of a front garden with a traditional, impermeable surface that drains onto the road. The government's guidance on paving front gardens explains why: solid paving sends rainwater, and the oil and dust it picks up, into drains that often lead straight to streams and rivers, and across a whole street that adds to flood risk. The Planning Portal sets out what does not need permission, for a house, whatever the size of the drive: - **Permeable or porous surfaces**, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, which let water drain through - **Solid surfaces where the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border** to drain naturally So the question is not really "how big is the drive?" but "where does the rain go?" ## What counts as permeable A surface is only permeable if the whole build lets water through, not just the top layer. The government guidance explains that permeable drives use an open-graded sub-base, such as 4/20 or Type 3 stone, with spaces that pass and store water, rather than standard hardcore full of fine material. Our guide to resin or block paving compares the main surfaces. In practice, the options we build that meet the rule are: - **Resin-bound** gravel on a porous base. Our resin driveways page explains the build - **Permeable block paving**, with wider joints filled with grit. See block paving - **Gravel**, ideally in a stabilising grid. See gravel driveways - **Standard block paving or tarmac with a planted border or soakaway** taking the run-off Our guide to driveway drainage in Redcar covers how to make each option work on sand and on clay. ## The exceptions that catch people out ### Flats and maisonettes The Planning Portal is clear that these permitted development rights apply to houses, not flats or maisonettes. In Coatham, where flats sit alongside the Victorian terraces, any new front drive needs to be checked with the council. ### Article 4 Directions and planning conditions Rights can be removed in particular areas by an Article 4 Direction, or on particular estates by a planning condition attached to the original permission. The council notes that many of the borough's conservation areas have Article 4 Directions giving extra protection. Some estates were also built with conditions restricting front-garden changes; your property deeds or the council can confirm this. ### The dropped kerb Driving over a pavement without a dropped kerb is not allowed, and the crossing is a separate approval from the drive. In Redcar, the property owner applies to Redcar and Cleveland Council. Our step-by-step guide to getting a dropped kerb in Redcar covers the process. The Planning Portal adds that a dropped kerb is not usually a planning matter in itself, but planning permission can be needed if the road is classified or a trunk road, the property is divided into flats, structural work is needed to make the parking area, or the property is listed or in a conservation area. ### Walls, gates and railings Taking down a front wall is often part of creating a drive. Outside conservation areas, low walls and gates are generally permitted development within height limits, but in a conservation area, demolishing a front wall or railings can need permission. ## Redcar's conservation areas Redcar and Cleveland Council lists 17 conservation areas in the borough. Two cover parts of Redcar itself: - **Coatham**, designated in 1982, originally as the Redcar Conservation Area. It takes in the old hamlet around High Street West and the Victorian terraces running towards Kirkleatham Street. Frontages are often shallow, so the question is frequently whether a space is deep enough as well as whether it is allowed. - **Kirkleatham village**, designated in 1970, around the historic estate village and Sir William Turner's Hospital, which is Grade I listed. The housing estates in the Kirkleatham ward are outside it. Further along the coast, Saltburn has an Article 4 Direction, in force since 10 September 2021, under which building or altering a boundary wall or gate needs planning permission. The council's Saltburn page explains which changes are covered. In any conservation area, we suggest speaking to the council's planning team before removing a front wall or railings or changing the look of a frontage. Clay pavers or setts that suit the street usually sit better than plain concrete, as our Coatham page explains. ## Listed buildings If your home is listed, changes to its frontage, walls or setting can need listed building consent as well as, or instead of, planning permission. In Redcar this includes buildings such as Dormans Crescent in Dormanstown and the historic buildings of Kirkleatham village. ## A quick checklist 1. Is the property a house, rather than a flat or maisonette? 2. Will the drive be permeable, or drain to a lawn or border? 3. Is it in the Coatham or Kirkleatham conservation area, or is the building listed? 4. Do the deeds or the original planning permission restrict front-garden changes? 5. Is a new or wider dropped kerb needed, and is the road classified? 6. Does the work involve removing a front wall or railings? If the answers are house, yes permeable, no, no, kerb approved and no, planning permission is not normally needed. We go through this list at the survey and point out anything you should check with the council. ## Questions people ask ### Do I need planning permission for a block paved drive? Not if it is permeable block paving, or standard blocks draining to a lawn or border. Solid paving over five square metres that drains to the road needs permission. ### Is resin a permeable surface? Resin-bound gravel on a porous base is permeable. Resin laid on solid concrete is not. ### Do I need planning permission for a dropped kerb in Redcar? Usually you need highway approval from the council rather than planning permission, but permission can be needed on classified roads, for flats, or in conservation areas. ### Can I pave my front garden if I live in a flat? Flats do not have permitted development rights for front-garden paving, so check with the council first. --- # Driveway drainage in Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/guides/driveway-drainage-redcar/ Every drive needs an answer to one question: where does the rain go? In Redcar the answer depends on whether your house sits on the loose blown sand of Coatham or the dense clay till found under most of the town, and on how close you are to the low ground near the coast. In short: Rain should stay on your land wherever possible. Building regulations guidance puts soaking into the ground first, then a watercourse, and a sewer only as a last resort, never the foul sewer. On Coatham's sand, a permeable drive or soakaway usually drains well. On the clay under Dormanstown, Kirkleatham, Newcomen, Zetland, West Dyke, Wheatlands and the Lakes Estate, water soaks away slowly, so a deeper permeable base, a planted border or a tested soakaway is needed, sometimes with an approved overflow. ## Why drainage matters for a drive A typical front drive is a large, flat, hard area right next to the house. If its water has nowhere to go, the result is puddles by the front door, ice in winter, water against the walls and, on a sloping street, run-off across the pavement. The government's guidance on paving front gardens also points out that hard surfaces collect oil, petrol and brake dust, and that many drains carry rainwater straight to streams and rivers. Keeping water on site is better for the house and for the becks and the sea. It is also a planning matter. A solid front drive of more than five square metres that drains onto the road needs planning permission, as explained in our guide to driveway planning permission in Redcar. ## Start with the ground The British Geological Survey's Geology Viewer shows two very different kinds of ground under Redcar's housing areas: - **Blown sand in central Coatham**, carried inland off the beach by the wind, over Redcar Mudstone. It drains quickly but is loose, so the sub-base needs good edge restraints to stop it creeping. - **Glacial till across most of the rest of town**, including Dormanstown, Kirkleatham, Newcomen, Zetland, West Dyke, Wheatlands and the Lakes Estate. Till is a dense, stony clay that holds water and softens when wet. Every plot is different. Old foundations, buried rubble or imported soil can sit on top of either, so we dig a trial hole at the survey, and for a soakaway we test how fast the ground actually drains. ## The order of preference Approved Document H, the building regulations guidance on drainage, sets a clear order for where rainwater should go: 1. **Into the ground**, through a soakaway or other infiltration 2. **To a watercourse**, if infiltration is not practical 3. **To a sewer**, only if neither of the first two is possible Rainwater must never go into the foul sewer, the pipe that takes toilet and kitchen waste. The Environment Agency explains that most modern homes have two separate systems, and that wrongly connected pipes are a common cause of river pollution. Connecting to a public surface water sewer also needs permission from the sewerage company, which in Redcar is Northumbrian Water. ## The main options ### Permeable surfaces Permeable block paving, resin-bound gravel on a porous base, and gravel in a grid all let rain soak through the surface into an open-graded stone base below. The government guidance explains that this stone stores water while it soaks into the ground. On Coatham's sand, that usually works on its own. On clay, the base needs to be deeper to hold water for longer, and the guidance notes that on clay soils a connection to a drain may be needed for heavy, prolonged rain. Our resin driveways, block paving and gravel driveways pages explain each build. ### Fall to a border or lawn A solid drive, such as standard block paving or tarmac, can be laid to fall towards a planted border, gravel strip or lawn, which takes the water. This meets the planning rule as long as the soft area can cope. On clay, it needs to be generous in size. ### Channel drain to a soakaway Where a drive falls towards the house or the garage, a channel drain across the bottom collects the water and pipes it to a soakaway. Approved Document H guidance is that soakaways should be at least 5 metres from a building, which can be hard to achieve on a short Redcar frontage. On clay, the soakaway also has to be sized for slow ground after a percolation test, and sometimes a soakaway is not practical at all. ### Approved connection If the ground will not take the water, the last option is a connection to a surface water sewer, with the agreement of Northumbrian Water. We would not make one without that agreement. ## Mistakes that cause problems - **Falling towards the house.** Every drive should fall away from the building, or to a drain in front of it. - **Building up too high.** Approved Document C guidance is that the damp-proof course should be at least 150mm above the adjoining ground or paving. A new drive laid on top of an old one can easily breach that and lead to damp. - **Blocking air bricks.** Raising levels can cover the vents under suspended floors, found in many older houses. - **A permeable top on a solid base.** Resin on old concrete, or permeable blocks on standard hardcore, looks porous but holds water. - **Water onto the pavement.** Run-off across the footway is a nuisance in rain and dangerous in frost. ## Check your flood risk The Environment Agency's long-term flood risk service shows the risk from rivers, the sea and surface water for any address. Our area pages note that the Environment Agency maps Flood Zone 3 within a few hundred metres of parts of Coatham and Dormanstown, mostly on low ground. Surface water flooding after heavy rain is the more common local issue on clay. It is worth checking your own address before choosing a design. ## The surface water rebate Northumbrian Water explains that part of a household sewerage bill can include a charge for surface water drainage, the service that takes rainwater away from homes. If your home is not connected to surface water drainage at all, you may be entitled to a rebate, though you still pay towards highway drainage. A permeable drive alone will not usually qualify if the roof still drains to the sewer, but it is worth knowing if your whole property drains to soakaways. ## Questions people ask ### Do I need a drain on my driveway? Not always. A permeable drive, or one falling to a border, may need no drain. A drive falling towards the house usually needs a channel drain. ### Will a soakaway work in Redcar? On Coatham's sand, often yes. On the clay found across most of Redcar, only after a percolation test, and it must be at least 5 metres from the house. ### Can driveway water go into the house drains? Never into the foul sewer. A connection to a surface water sewer needs Northumbrian Water's agreement. ### Is a permeable drive better on clay? It can work on clay with a deeper base to store water and, where needed, an approved overflow. --- # Free driveway quotes across Redcar URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/get-a-quote/ Tell us about the drive, repair or dropped kerb you have in mind anywhere in Redcar. Quotes cost nothing and commit you to nothing. ## How it works 1. **Send us the basics**: your postcode and a line or two on what the drive needs. 2. **We ring you back** to talk it over, then call round to measure if the job needs it. 3. **We put the price in writing**, itemised so you can set it against other quotes. ## Still deciding? - Driveway costs in Redcar - Resin or block paving? - Coastal driveways: salt, sand and wind ## Areas All of Redcar (TS10). See areas we cover and our privacy policy. --- # Talk to our Redcar driveway team URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/contact/ Call 01642 053595 or use the short form on this page and our Redcar team will be in touch to talk through your drive, repair or kerb. ## Helpful details to include - Your **postcode** and street. - **What is there now**: lawn, gravel, old concrete or a worn drive. - **What you would like**, even if you are undecided on the surface. - Whether there is already a **dropped kerb**. - Anything unusual, such as a slope, a tree or a shared access. ## What happens next 1. **A call or message from us** to talk the job through. 2. **A visit** where needed, to measure and check levels and drainage. 3. **A quote**, free and with no obligation. ## Areas Coatham, Dormanstown, Kirkleatham, Newcomen, Zetland, West Dyke, the Lakes Estate, Wheatlands and the rest of Redcar. See areas we cover. Our privacy policy explains how your details are used. --- # About Redcar Driveways URL: https://redcardriveways.co.uk/about/ Redcar Driveways is a local driveway business for Redcar homes. We explain the work, including the coastal and council details, so you know what you are asking for before you get a price. ## What we do We publish clear guides to surfaces, costs and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council's dropped kerb process, written for Redcar's mix of seaside terraces, garden-village homes and modern estates. When you are ready, send us the quote form and our team will contact you, survey the job and quote. ## Guides - Surfaces: resin, block paving, tarmac, gravel, plus driveway repairs. - Access: dropped kerbs and the step-by-step kerb guide. - Coast: salt, sand and wind. - Money: what a drive costs in Redcar. ## Where we cover Redcar (TS10), including Coatham, Dormanstown, Kirkleatham, Newcomen, Zetland, West Dyke, the Lakes Estate and Wheatlands. ## Plain dealing We do not publish reviews, ratings or trading-history claims. Photos are illustrative. We do not publish prices: every drive is quoted after we have measured up. The privacy policy explains how we handle enquiries.