This guide uses facts already published on the RKG site: measured site visits, fixed written quotes, parking examples, excavation, MOT Type 1 sub-base, edge restraints, drainage routes, permeable surface options and landscaping access notes.
Quick answer
Before converting a front garden into driveway parking, check how many vehicles the layout must handle, how materials will reach the work area, what will be excavated, what compacted sub-base is included, how edges and borders will hold the surface, and where rainwater will go.
Front garden conversion checklist
| Check | What to ask | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Parking layout | How many vehicles need daily space, and where will each car enter, stop and leave? | RKG's existing quote tools use 20m², 40m² and 60m² examples, but the site visit should confirm the real layout. |
| Access for work | Can machinery, materials and waste removal reach the front garden safely? | RKG notes that tight or side-return-only access can slow work and add labour, so access should be priced honestly. |
| Excavation and sub-base | What dig depth, membrane and compacted MOT Type 1 build-up are included? | The visible finish lasts longer when soft garden ground is replaced with a properly compacted driveway base. |
| Drainage route | Will water drain through the surface, to a border, channel drain, soakaway or French drain? | RKG's planning guidance says non-permeable front-drive areas over 5m² need a water route rather than run-off to the public highway. |
| Edges and thresholds | What kerbs, block borders, hidden restraints or shingle edging hold the new driveway in place? | Edges, levels and door or garage thresholds affect daily access, puddling risk and long-term movement. |
| Surface choice | Which finish suits the layout: resin, shingle, permeable blocks, standard block paving or tarmac? | Permeability, maintenance, budget and appearance all change the quote; no one finish suits every front garden. |
How front gardens change drainage decisions
A front garden often starts with soil, planting or lawn that absorbs some rain. Once more of that space becomes parking, the water route needs to be designed instead of assumed. RKG's drainage guides already compare permeable surfaces, falls to borders, linear drains, soakaways and French drains.
If drainage is the main constraint, read the planning and drainage guide, the driveway drainage solutions guide and the permeable driveway options guide before choosing the finish.
How garden ground changes preparation
RKG's sub-base guidance ties long driveway life to excavation, membrane where needed, compacted MOT Type 1, edging and drainage. That matters when a soft planted area or lawn becomes regular parking, because cars need a stronger base than a garden path or patio border.
The quote should explain what is removed, how waste is handled, how the sub-base is compacted, and how the new driveway meets existing paths, walls, pavement edges, garage thresholds or planted borders.
Which surface should be shortlisted?
Use the site visit to shortlist surfaces after the layout and drainage are understood. Resin bound and shingle are presented on the site as permeable choices. Correctly specified permeable block paving can also help with SuDS. Tarmac and standard block paving can work well, but the quote should show where the water goes.
For surface comparisons, start with the resin vs block paving guide, tarmac vs resin guide, block paving vs shingle guide and low-maintenance driveway surfaces guide.
What should be written into the quote?
Ask for the measured area, parking assumptions, access constraints, excavation and sub-base specification, edging, drainage route, surface finish, expected installation timeline, guarantee and payment stages in plain English. That keeps a front garden conversion tied to the real site instead of a square-metre estimate alone.