Written by Mark Reid,
Trades Editor ·Verified 23 September 2026
Solihull's mix of housing, from the 1930s semis around Olton and Shirley to the newer executive builds near Dickens Heath and Balsall Common, means driveway work here varies a lot. Some jobs are straightforward tarmac resurfacing on a modest terraced frontage in Elmdon, others involve full block paving and drainage on a larger plot out towards Hampton-in-Arden or Meriden. Clay-heavy soil across parts of the borough can cause issues with subsidence and cracking if the sub-base isn't laid properly, so local knowledge of ground conditions genuinely matters rather than being a sales line. Front gardens converted to parking are common too, especially near the town centre and Shirley high street, and that brings planning permission questions around permeable surfaces that a specialist working locally will already understand.
The businesses featured here are pulled from public business listings and ranked mainly by review rating and how many reviews they've built up, with a small lift given to those showing a working website and contactable phone number. We read through each business's homepage as well, checking that driveway work is actually their main trade rather than something offered as an afterthought by a general builder, which keeps unrelated tradespeople off this page. Listings flagged as permanently closed get removed automatically, so you shouldn't find dead entries here. Where a business carries a Trust Verified badge, it means they've gone through our fuller verification, covering trade qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information. Our How We Verify page sets out exactly what that involves. Any business without that badge hasn't been through those checks by us, so it's worth doing your own homework before you commit.
Before hiring, ask to see photos of recent driveway jobs nearby, ideally something similar in scale to your own project. Confirm whether quoted prices include excavation, disposal of old materials and any edging or drainage work, since these get left off cheaper quotes and added back on later. Check public liability insurance is current and ask whether they belong to a trade body such as the Interlaying Block Paving Association or similar. Getting two or three quotes is standard practice, not overkill, and it'll quickly show you if one price is oddly low or high for the same specification.
How We Select & Rate The Best Driveway Specialists in Solihull
Rankings are driven primarily by review rating and review count taken from public business listings, with a small lift for businesses that show a working website and phone number. We check each business's homepage to confirm driveway work is what they primarily offer, which keeps unrelated trades off the page. Listings marked as permanently closed are removed automatically. Businesses displaying a Trust Verified badge have additionally passed our full verification, covering qualifications and accreditations, public liability insurance, trading history, customer review history and registered company information; see our How We Verify page for the complete list. Other businesses haven't been independently verified by us, and appearing on this page isn't an endorsement. Always do your own checks before hiring.
Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. Every other listing is ranked on rating and review count from third-party business listings. How we rank & verify →
Quick Comparison: Driveway Specialists in Solihull
Resin driveways, block paving, and natural stone paving make up the core of what Resin Drives Birmingham Ltd offers, alongside tarmac surfacing, patio installation, and hard landscaping across Solihull and the surrounding area. The company holds a five-star rating from 115 Google reviews, lending the kind of consistency that is straightforward to verify. Fencing and artificial grass round out a fairly broad outdoor surfacing service.
Block paving and resin-bound surfacing make up much of HCD Driveways' workload across Solihull, with attention given to drainage and edging detail that keeps a new driveway looking settled rather than bolted on. The firm holds a 5-star rating from 9 reviews, a modest but consistent record for a small local outfit.
Families across Solihull call on Olton Home & Garden Services for driveway resurfacing, repairs and installation work. The firm holds a 4.3 rating from 26 reviews, reflecting steady demand from local households wanting practical, hard-wearing surfaces rather than short-lived fixes. Jobs are scoped and carried out with attention to existing garden layouts and access needs.
Transparency notice: Recommended and Featured listings are paid placements, so a business's fee affects whether and where it appears. All other listings are ranked by a combined score drawn from ratings and review counts published on third-party business listings, plus basic completeness signals such as a working website and phone. A Trust Verified badge means we have independently checked that business's documents; businesses without it have not been independently verified by us. How we verify →
Is your business missing?
Get listed and reach customers actively searching for your services in this area.
How much does a driveway specialist cost in Solihull?
For a standard tarmac driveway on a semi-detached property, expect somewhere between £2,500 and £4,500 depending on size and access. Block paving typically runs higher, often £4,000 to £8,000 for a similar area, because of the extra labour involved in laying individual blocks. Resin-bound surfaces sit in a similar bracket, usually £50 to £90 per square metre. Costs shift depending on whether the old surface needs digging out, whether drainage or edging is required, and how easy the site is to access with machinery. Getting two or three quotes for the same job is the best way to spot a fair price.
Do I need planning permission for a new driveway in Solihull?
If you're using a permeable surface such as gravel, permeable block paving, or if rainwater drains to a lawn or border rather than the road, you generally don't need planning permission. If you're laying a non-permeable surface over more than 5 square metres and it drains towards the highway, you will need permission from Solihull Council. A reputable driveway specialist should flag this during the quote stage, but it's worth checking with the council directly if you're unsure.
How long does a driveway installation take?
A straightforward tarmac driveway on an average family home usually takes two to three days, including excavation and laying the sub-base. Block paving takes a bit longer, often three to five days, since each block is laid by hand. Resin-bound surfaces can sometimes be done in a day once the base is prepared. Weather affects all of these, particularly tarmac and resin work, which need dry conditions to cure properly.
What's the difference between tarmac, block paving and resin driveways?
Tarmac is generally the cheapest option and quick to lay, but it can crack over time and doesn't offer much in the way of pattern or colour choice. Block paving costs more but gives a lot more design flexibility and individual blocks can be replaced if damaged, which is handy if a stopcock or drain cover sits under part of the drive. Resin-bound surfaces give a smoother, modern finish and drain well, but tend to sit at the higher end of the price scale and need a properly prepared base to avoid cracking.
Will a new driveway affect my drainage or my neighbours' property?
It can, particularly if the ground is sloped or if your neighbours' garden sits lower than yours. A competent installer will assess fall and drainage before starting work, often building in a slight gradient towards a soakaway or permeable edge to stop water pooling or running onto next door. If you're on clay soil, which is common across parts of Solihull, poor drainage planning is one of the more frequent causes of driveways failing early or causing damp issues nearby.
How do I choose between different driveway specialists in Solihull?
Start by asking to see examples of recent completed jobs, ideally ones similar in size and material to your own, and ask for contact details of past customers if possible. Check that public liability insurance is current and ask directly about it rather than assuming. Look at how detailed their written quote is, vague quotes that don't break down materials, labour and disposal costs are a common source of disputes later. If a business carries a Trust Verified badge on this page, that means our full verification process has already covered qualifications, insurance and trading history for you. Where that badge isn't present, treat it as your responsibility to check those things yourself before signing anything.
Related Guides
More independently researched rankings you might find useful
