Gravel Driveways

A properly built gravel driveway is loose aggregate laid over a permeable membrane and a compacted stone sub-base, usually held in place with a honeycomb stabiliser grid or a firm edge restraint so the stone doesn’t migrate, rut under tyres, or spread onto lawns and verges. Because water passes straight through the loose aggregate rather than running off the surface, gravel is naturally free-draining without needing a specialist permeable system, and it is straightforward to top up over time rather than replace outright. It suits long approach drives, rural and semi-rural settings, and period properties where a hard-edged sealed surface would look at odds with the house, though it needs a genuine edge restraint to stay tidy rather than simply being tipped and left.

Best suited to: long approach drives, rural and period properties, and anywhere a soft, traditional look is wanted

Less suited to: steep gradients without extra stabilisation, where loose stone will migrate downhill under normal driving

Permeable / SuDS: Yes — specified with a properly permeable build-up, this surface can meet SuDS drainage requirements.