From Fulford Road to the old village
Fulford is really two places. Fulford Road, the A19, runs south from the city past Imphal Barracks, whose Keep is listed, and rows of larger Victorian and Edwardian houses. Further south, the old village on Main Street gathers around the Church of St Oswald, the almshouses near St Oswald's Road, the Plough Inn, the Saddle Inn, the library and Fulford School. Side streets such as Broadway, Danesmead Close, Heslington Lane and School Lane fill the space between them.
The 2021 Census reflects that mix. The Fulford & Heslington ward had 1,636 households: 49% in semis, 23% detached, 14% terraced and 14% flats, with 67% owner-occupied. The census area around St Oswald's Road (LSOA York 019C, in Fishergate ward) has more flats (30%) and more private renting (27%), with 18% detached homes and 37% semis. A little to the north, around Broadway (LSOA York 019A), 81% of homes are semis.
Typical requests in Fulford:
- Gravel or resin drives for older detached houses where a softer look suits the street.
- Block-paved double drives on the semis around Broadway.
- Repairs to old drives where tree roots have lifted the surface.
- Parking for flats in converted houses, where all owners must agree.
Two conservation areas and many listed buildings
Fulford Road conservation area (designated 1975) follows the main road, and Fulford Village conservation area (designated 1998) covers the old village. More than 20 listed buildings stand nearby, including Fulford House, Holly House (the Old Manor House), Holly Lodge, Danesmead, Delwood Croft, the Fulford Cross, 6 and 8, 17, 19 and 30–32 York Road, 200–202 Fulford Road, and St Oswald's Church.
In either conservation area:
- ask City of York Council's planning team before removing front walls, railings or gate piers,
- expect the council to care about materials as well as layout, so gravel, setts or clay pavers often go down better than plain concrete,
- remember that listed buildings need listed building consent for changes affecting their character.
Elsewhere, a permeable front drive on a house, or one draining to the garden, is permitted development. Impermeable paving over five square metres draining to the road needs planning permission.
Esker sand and the Ouse floodplain
Fulford village sits on part of the Crockey Hill Esker, a ridge of sand and gravel left by meltwater under the glacier, over Sherwood Sandstone. Sand and gravel drains freely, which is ideal for permeable surfaces. A gravel or resin-bound drive on a compacted stone base lets water soak away into the ground.
Lower land is different. The Environment Agency's flood map shows 23 Flood Zone 3 and 24 Flood Zone 2 areas within 400 metres of St Oswald's Road, mostly following the River Ouse to the west. If your home is near a mapped zone, keep the drive permeable and avoid raising ground levels, which can push water towards neighbours.
The A19 and York's kerb rules
Gates on Fulford Road. Fulford Road is the A19. City of York Council expects gates on A, B and C roads to be set back at least 6 metres, so a car can pull fully off the road first. Many Fulford Road frontages are deep enough, but check before ordering gates.
Crossing fees. York charges £263 for an approved crossing, £131.50 to improve an existing one and £63 for a refusal, none refundable. The council considers safety, traffic flow and the loss of on-street parking, and its decision is final. Utility covers or gullies in the footway can push construction costs up. See our dropped kerbs page.
What Fulford drives cost
At Checkatrade's April 2026 UK averages, for a 35m² drive:
- Gravel with a grid: about £60 per m², roughly £2,100.
- Tarmac: about £90 per m², roughly £3,150.
- Block paving: about £100 per m², roughly £3,500.
- Resin bound: about £120 per m², roughly £4,200.
Clay pavers or setts in the conservation areas, removing tree roots and rebuilding walls or piers can all add to the cost.
Neighbouring areas
- Driveways in Osbaldwick: North-east beyond Heslington, a village suburb of semis.
- Driveways in Dringhouses: West across the Ouse and the Knavesmire.
- Driveways in Heworth: North on the far side of the city centre.
Finishes that suit Fulford's older houses: gravel, resin-bound, block paving.
All the areas we cover: Where we work.
Questions people ask in Fulford
Which conservation area am I in?
Fulford Road conservation area follows the A19, and Fulford Village conservation area covers the old village around Main Street. City of York Council can confirm an address.
Is gravel a good choice in Fulford?
Often, yes. Much of the village sits on free-draining esker sand and gravel, and gravel suits the older houses. Use a grid to stop it spreading.
Is Fulford at risk of flooding?
Land towards the River Ouse is in mapped Flood Zones 2 and 3. Check your address and keep the drive permeable if you are close.
Can I have gates on Fulford Road?
City of York Council expects gates on A roads to be at least 6 metres back from the highway, so a car can pull in before opening them.
Sources: ONS Census 2021, Fulford & Heslington ward and LSOA York 019C (TS044, TS045, TS054 via Nomis); Planning Data: conservation areas and listed buildings; OpenStreetMap: street, school and church names; BGS Geology Viewer, 1:50,000; Environment Agency flood map for planning; City of York Council: dropped kerbs and vehicle access; GOV.UK: permeable surfacing of front gardens; Checkatrade driveway cost guide (April 2026).