Romanby then and now
The name looks Roman, but it comes from a Viking called Hromund. Romanby appears in the Domesday Book as land belonging to King William. Its medieval chapel was pulled down in 1523 on the orders of the Bishop of Durham, Thomas Wolsey, after the vicar of Northallerton questioned his authority. Today's St James' Church went up in 1882 and is listed at Grade II, and the Methodist church dates from 1962.
The parish grew quickly in the 20th century. It had 6,051 people in 2001 and 6,177 in 2011, which makes it bigger than many market towns. The old core is still the green, with the Romanby War Memorial Clock Tower (Grade II) and houses lining both sides. Newer streets such as Chantry Road and Phoenix Grove spread out from there towards the railway and the golf course.
Houses and parking
The 2021 Census counted 2,735 households in Romanby ward. Of these, 43% were semi-detached and 42% detached, with 9% terraced and 5% in purpose-built flats. That is a lot of houses with a front garden and a side, which is exactly where a drive goes.
Closer to the green, the census area around DL7 8NR (LSOA Hambleton 013C) is more mixed: 31% semis, 30% terraces, 25% detached and 14% flats across 678 households. Here 22% of households had no car, while 34% had two or more. 28% rent from a social landlord, so tenants should check with the landlord before planning anything.
Typical Romanby requests:
- A second space beside the first on a 1960s or 1970s semi.
- Lifting old concrete flags and relaying in block paving.
- A tarmac drive for a bungalow, with a gentle ramp instead of a step.
- A new dropped kerb where the house has never had off-road parking.
Ground and flood risk
The British Geological Survey maps central Romanby on gravelly sand of the Vale of York Formation, lying over Mercia Mudstone. Sand drains well and compacts firmly, so the sub-base is rarely the problem. Where the sand thins and the mudstone comes near the surface, water can collect, and a soakaway is less effective.
Flood maps matter more here than in most of the villages around the town. The Environment Agency's flood map shows flood zones 2 and 3 within 300 metres of the green, on the low ground nearby. If your house is in or near one, a permeable drive (gravel on a grid, permeable blocks or resin bound) is the sensible choice, and run-off should never be pointed at the road or a neighbour.
Planning and the kerb
Planning. Romanby has its own conservation area around the green, next to the Northallerton one. In a conservation area, take care with walls, gate piers and front gardens, and check with the council before removing a boundary. Elsewhere, a permeable front drive for a house is permitted development. An impermeable one over five square metres that drains to the road needs planning permission.
Dropping the kerb. North Yorkshire Council sells a domestic licence for £310.20, and an approved independent contractor builds the crossing. You can also ask the council to quote for the work: the quotation costs £102.36, and the council says construction is typically about £2,000 plus a 10% admin fee. If a crossing turns out not to be possible, there's no quotation fee. Near the level crossing and junctions, visibility is the main issue. See our dropped kerbs and access page.
What it costs
A two-car drive in front of a Romanby semi is often about 30m². At Checkatrade's April 2026 national averages:
| Surface | Per m² | 30m² |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel with a grid | about £60 | around £1,800 |
| Tarmac | about £90 | around £2,700 |
| Block paving | about £100 | around £3,000 |
| Resin bound | about £120 | around £3,600 |
Digging out old concrete, edging, drainage and the kerb work add to these figures. Printed concrete is also an option, and we can price it next to the others.
Picking a surface. On Romanby's sandy ground, block paving sits well and lasts. It can be lifted for drain repairs, and a brindle block suits the red-brick semis. Tarmac is the quickest option on a bungalow with a long frontage. Near the flood zones, a permeable surface keeps rainwater on your plot without extra drainage. Around the green, a softer finish such as gravel or a traditional setts border looks better beside the older houses.
Villages and areas near Romanby
- Yafforth drives: West across the Wiske, a small farming village.
- Ainderby Steeple drives: South-west along the A684, with a Grade I church.
- Brompton drives: North of the town centre, a conservation village.
Popular with Romanby homeowners: block paving, tarmac surfacing, dropped kerbs and access.
All areas covered: See every village.
Questions people ask in Romanby
Do I need planning permission for a drive in Romanby?
Not usually, if it is permeable or drains onto your garden. In the conservation area around the green, check first before taking down a wall or hedge.
How much is a dropped kerb in Romanby?
North Yorkshire Council's licence is £310.20 with an approved independent contractor. A council quotation costs £102.36, and the council puts typical construction at about £2,000 plus 10%.
Is Romanby at risk of flooding?
Parts of it are. Flood zones 2 and 3 lie within 300 metres of the green, so check the Environment Agency map for your address and consider a permeable surface.
Is the ground good for a drive?
Generally yes. It is gravelly sand over mudstone, which compacts well, though drainage is weaker where the mudstone is close to the surface.
Sources: ONS Census 2021, Romanby ward (TS044) and LSOA Hambleton 013C (via Nomis); Wikipedia: Romanby; Planning Data: conservation areas and listed buildings; BGS Geology Viewer, 1:50,000; Environment Agency flood map for planning; North Yorkshire Council: pavements and kerbs; GOV.UK: permeable surfacing of front gardens; Checkatrade driveway cost guide (April 2026).