Clay underfoot
Northallerton sits in the Vale of Mowbray, broad, flat farmland on heavy clay. Clay holds water, swells when wet and shrinks in dry summers, and flat sites give rainwater nowhere obvious to go. Lay a driveway on a thin base here and it will sink, crack or puddle.
So we excavate to firm ground, use a geotextile membrane to keep clay out of the stone sub-base, build the sub-base deep enough to spread the load, and plan exactly where the water will go. On a flat plot, that might mean a soakaway, a channel to a planted area or a permeable surface such as gravel or resin.
Town, estate or village
Northallerton has grown a lot in recent years, with new estates on the north and south sides of town. Builder-laid drives on new homes are often narrow, and many owners want them widened or upgraded to block paving. In Romanby and around the town centre, older semis and terraces have their own frontage and kerb questions. In the villages, from Brompton and Yafforth to Osmotherley and Thornton-le-Beans, longer drives, gravel and farm-style entrances are common.
Our guide to new-build and village driveways covers covenants, access onto country lanes and more.
Surfaces we lay
Block paving, gravel, tarmac, resin-bound and printed concrete, each built on a base designed for local ground. If you need a lowered kerb or a new entrance, see dropped kerbs and access.
Who looks after planning now
Since April 2023, North Yorkshire Council has handled planning and highways for Northallerton, taking over from Hambleton District Council and North Yorkshire County Council.
