Block paving lasts longest and can be repaired block by block. Resin bound gives a seamless, permeable finish that usually avoids planning permission. Tarmac is the fastest and cheapest to lay. For most Norwich homes on clay soil, the deciding factors are drainage and how the surface will be repaired in ten years’ time.
The comparison at a glance
| Block paving | Resin bound | Tarmac | |
| Typical lifespan | 20+ years | 15–20 years | 15–20 years |
| Cost per m² | Middle | Highest | Lowest |
| Install time (typical drive) | 3–5 days | 1 day on a sound base; 3–5 days with a new base | 1–2 days |
| Permeable? | Only with permeable blocks or a soakaway | Yes, inherently | No, unless drainage is added |
| Planning permission (front garden, over 5m²) | Needed unless permeable or drained | Normally not needed | Needed unless drained |
| Repairs | Lift and replace individual blocks — invisible | Patch repairs are visible | Resurface a section — usually visible |
| Weeds | Possible in joints | None | None |
| Maintenance | Top up joint sand; occasional wash | Occasional low-pressure wash | Occasional resurface at 10–15 years |
| Oil stains | Wipes off, does not absorb | Resists, clean promptly | Absorbs, stains permanently |
| Best for | Longevity and repairability | Modern look and drainage compliance | Budget and speed |
Which suits Norfolk’s ground conditions?
Norfolk is not one soil type. Much of the Norwich area sits on boulder clay, which holds water and swells and shrinks with the seasons. Parts of north and west Norfolk are chalk and sand and drain freely. That difference matters more than the surface you choose.
On clay: drainage is the priority. Water that cannot get away sits under the surface, and in a Norfolk winter it freezes, expands and lifts whatever is above it. That points towards either a permeable resin bound surface, permeable block paving, or a conventional surface with a properly designed soakaway. It also means a deeper sub-base than a sandy site needs, whichever surface you pick.
On free-draining ground: you have more freedom. All three surfaces work well; choose on appearance, budget and reparability.
On coastal properties: Cromer, Sheringham, Great Yarmouth, add salt-laden wind to the equation. Resin bound and block paving both handle it; tarmac edges are usually the first thing to go, so proper edge restraint matters more than usual.
The question most people forget to ask
Not “how does it look now” but “what happens when something goes wrong”.
- A cracked block paving driveway: lift the damaged blocks, fix what is underneath, put the same blocks back. Invisible.
- A damaged patch of resin bound: repairable, but a new patch cures slightly differently from four-year-old resin, so you will see it.
- A pothole in tarmac: patched, and you will see the patch. Eventually the whole drive is resurfaced.
- If you plan to be in the house for 15 years, this matters more than the price difference.
Choose block paving if…
You want the longest life, you like the look of a traditional or patterned drive, you want individually repairable surfacing, and you are willing to top up joint sand occasionally. Also the right choice if you want brickweave — the Norfolk name for exactly the same thing.
Choose resin bound if…
You want a clean, contemporary, seamless finish with no loose stones and no weeds, you need permeability to avoid a planning application, and you have or can build a sound solid base. Not the choice if you want the cheapest option.
Choose tarmac Driveway if…
Budget and speed lead, the drive is long (so per-square-metre cost dominates), or you are resurfacing a sound existing base. Plan for drainage, because tarmac is impermeable.
Frequently asked questions
Which driveway surface lasts longest? Block paving, at 20+ years, and it can be repaired indefinitely by replacing individual blocks. Resin bound and tarmac both typically last 15–20 years before the surface itself needs attention.
Which is cheapest? Tarmac per square metre. Over a 20-year period the picture changes, because tarmac usually needs resurfacing at 10–15 years while block paving is repaired block by block.
Which avoids planning permission? Resin bound, because it is permeable and water drains through the surface. Block paving and tarmac need permeable blocks or a drainage solution to avoid a planning application on front gardens over 5m².
Can I put resin over my existing block paving? Not directly. Resin bound needs a solid, continuous base, tarmac or concrete. Block paving flexes at the joints and the resin will crack along them.