South West · England
Excavation and sub-base in Devon
From Exeter outwards, we quote excavation and sub-base for homes and businesses across Devon, with the price fixed in writing once the specification is agreed.
- Guide price
- Priced after survey
- Postcode areas
- EX, TQ, PL
- Survey
- Free, no obligation
Excavation and sub-base across Devon
Excavation and sub-base work is the groundwork under a resin surface: digging out the old drive and soft ground, removing the spoil, and building up compacted layers of crushed stone and a binder course that will carry cars without moving.
Base preparation is commonly 30–45% of a new resin drive budget, and it is where corners get cut. A thin base, unwashed fines in a permeable build, or poor compaction show up as cracks and dips within a few winters.
In Plymouth we can price work such as replacing failed edges that have started to crumble, setting a channel drain across a garage entrance and preparing a drive to meet a new dropped kerb.
Prices in Devon
Prices in the South West are above the UK average. These are guide ranges including VAT; your quote follows a free survey.
Excavation and sub-base: Priced after survey.
Planning in Devon
Groundworks for a domestic drive do not usually need planning permission in themselves, but the finished surface follows the front-garden drainage rules, and shallow services such as water pipes and cables are located before digging.
Weather and working days
The South West gets more rain than the east of England, especially on higher ground, so permeability and falls matter on every drive. Surveys run all year; resin work itself waits for a dry day above about 5°C.
Excavation and sub-base in Devon: questions
Who approves dropped kerbs in Devon?
Dropped kerb consent comes from your council as local highway authority. We help with the application and get your drive ready to meet the new crossing.
Is the price fixed for Devon jobs?
Yes, once the scope and specification are agreed in writing. If hidden ground conditions turn up, we explain and agree any change with you before doing extra work.
Do I need planning permission in Devon?
In England, a new or replaced hard surface of more than 5 m² in a front garden is permitted development only if it is porous, or if rainwater drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property. A fully permeable resin bound build, with a porous base under it, meets that test.
Other services in Devon
- Resin bound driveways
- Resin bonded driveways
- Resin over tarmac and concrete
- New resin driveways (full dig-out)
- Permeable SuDS driveways
- Driveway extensions and widening
- Resin patios
- Resin garden paths
- Resin steps
- Resin pool surrounds
- Accessible resin ramps
- Driveway drainage and soakaways
- Driveway edging and borders
- Dropped kerb applications
- Resin driveway repairs
- Resin driveway cleaning
- Resin driveway restoration
- Commercial resin surfacing
- Resin tree pits
- Anti-slip resin surfacing
- Footpaths and cycle paths
Free survey · itemised quote
Book a free survey in Devon
Tell us about your project and we will arrange a visit.
- Base, edging and drainage priced line by line
- Real blend samples shown in daylight
- Price fixed in writing once the spec is agreed
Prefer to talk? 0800 088 6341 or