About Roseworth
Roseworth sits to the north-west of Stockton town centre, bordered by Hardwick to the south-west and by Ragworth and Norton towards the east. The estate dates from the 1950s, and its church was built in 1956. Housing is mostly brick semis and short terraces with front and back gardens, laid out along streets that all start with R.
Many homes are now privately owned, while others are rented from housing associations. If you rent, you will need your landlord's written consent before creating a drive.
Lawn to drive, step by step
- Measure. You need roughly 5 to 6 metres between the house and the back of the footway so a car does not overhang the pavement.
- Apply for the crossing first. Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council either quotes and builds it, or you use a contractor holding the council's Opening Up licence. See dropped kerbs.
- Choose a surface. Tarmac and gravel are the budget options, block paving the more decorative one.
- Keep some green. Leaving a strip of lawn or a planted border helps drainage and softens the frontage.
Verges and street trees
Roseworth's streets often have wide grass verges and some mature trees. A crossing over a verge is longer and so can cost more, because more footway and verge need to be built up to take a car. Trees, lamp posts and utility covers in the verge can limit where the crossing goes. These are decided by the council, which is why applying before building is so important.
Keeping the cost down
- Use the existing front path line where possible, so less needs digging out.
- Choose tarmac or gravel for the main area and use blocks only for an edge or apron.
- Do the front wall or fence removal as part of the same job, so there is one skip.
- Get a fixed written quote that lists the sub-base depth, edging and drainage.
Our Stockton cost guide gives typical figures per square metre.
Drainage
A new drive on Roseworth's clay should either be permeable or fall towards a lawn or border, so it does not need planning permission under the front-garden rule. See permeable driveways.
Common questions
Do I need a dropped kerb for a Roseworth drive?
Yes, if there is not one already. Driving over a full-height kerb or a grass verge without a crossing is not allowed.
Can I put a drive in if I rent?
Only with your landlord's written permission.
Is there a cheaper alternative to tarmac?
Gravel on a compacted base with a solid apron is usually the lowest-cost option.
How long does a lawn-to-drive conversion take?
The drive itself usually takes a few days. The council's crossing process takes longer, so start it first.