Last updated October 2026
A Cardiff driveway has to deal with Welsh rules as well as the council’s own. Welsh rules require any new front surface on a house to be permeable or to drain to a permeable area, and Cardiff Council adds that a non-porous hard standing will need planning permission. Resin bound meets both. A two-car Cardiff drive of about 50 m² is priced at £4,000 to £7,500 in typical UK guides, and the council charges £263 to apply for the kerb.
Cardiff builds every crossover itself, so the council’s charge sits beside the drive price rather than inside it.
| Item | Price | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Resin bound drive, about 20 m² | £1,800 to £2,800 | typical UK prices, MacColl & Stokes |
| Resin bound drive, about 50 m² | £4,000 to £7,500 | typical UK prices, MacColl & Stokes, Checkatrade |
| Drainage where needed | £300 to £1,000 | typical UK prices, MacColl & Stokes, MyBuilder |
| Cardiff Council crossover application | £263, non-refundable | Cardiff Council |
| Building the crossover | priced by Cardiff Council or its nominated contractor | Cardiff Council |
Who builds a dropped kerb in Cardiff?
Cardiff Council, or its nominated contractor, is the only provider. So Alex arranges the Cardiff kerb through the council, which schedules the work 4 to 8 weeks after you pay, and the resin is timed to be finished before the crossover crew arrives.
How much room does Cardiff need in front of the house?
A forecourt at least 4.8 m deep. A single crossover is 2.4 m to 3 m wide. If your front garden is shallower than 4.8 m, Cardiff will not approve a crossover, however good the drive.
Where must the water go on a Cardiff drive?
Within your own property. Cardiff requires surface water to drain inside the boundary rather than onto the pavement, and a non-porous hard standing needs planning permission. A resin bound drive on a permeable base lets rain soak in where it falls, which is why it suits Cardiff’s rule. Resin bonded, laid on a sealed base, would need its own drainage and a planning application.
What does the Welsh permeable rule mean?
For a Cardiff house, Welsh Government guidance says that if you lay or replace a hard surface at the front, you must use permeable or porous materials, or direct the water to a permeable area at the front. Repairing or replacing up to 5 m² of existing hard surface is allowed without them. The rules apply to houses, not flats or maisonettes, and listed buildings need planning to lay a hard surface.
Could a large Cardiff drive need SAB approval?
Possibly, if the construction area is 100 m² or more. Since 2019 Wales has required approved sustainable drainage (SAB approval) for new construction of that size. Work that does not need planning is exempt unless it covers 100 m² or more, and SAB fees run from £420 to £7,500. For a big Cardiff drive and turning area, we check with the council’s SAB before quoting.
Sources
- Cardiff Council, vehicle crossovers, read Oct 2026
- Welsh Government, planning permission: patio and driveway, read Oct 2026
- Newport City Council, sustainable drainage systems, read Oct 2026
- CIWEM, SuDS: common sense stuck in stagnation, 22 Jul 2025
- MacColl & Stokes, resin driveway cost UK 2026, Oct 2026
- MyBuilder, resin bound driveway cost, Aug 2026
How it works
- 01Send photos of the driveRough size, what is there now and your postcode.
- 02We visitThe ground under the drive, the levels and where the water goes are checked.
- 03Written priceThe base, edging and drainage as their own lines.
Do I need planning permission on a Cardiff main road?
Yes. Cardiff wants planning permission for crossovers on classified roads, on top of its own approval. On other roads, a permeable resin bound drive for a house normally needs none under the Welsh rules. Our planning guide compares Wales with England and Scotland.
What should a Cardiff quote show?
A Cardiff quote should show how water stays on your plot, then the sub-base and edging, a UV-stable resin from a named system, and who gives the written guarantee. The crossover will be Cardiff’s own price, so it should not appear as ours. See resin driveway cost and dropped kerb cost .
Who runs a Cardiff job?
The Resin Drive Company is a WeDo Property Services service. We arrange a vetted local resin driveway installer to carry out Cardiff work, confirm who within 2 working days, or tell you plainly if we can’t. Alex Winser keeps the job moving as your one point of contact, and you see the installer’s name on the written quote before you agree to anything.