An old village on the Foss
Huntington was part of the North Riding of Yorkshire until 1974, then part of Ryedale district until 1996, when it joined the City of York. It now forms the Huntington & New Earswick ward. The Old Village keeps its character, with the Blacksmiths Arms at the corner of Church Lane and the stump of the old village cross outside 2 Church Lane, listed at Grade II. Church Lane crosses the Foss by Church Bridge.
Beyond the old centre, roads such as North Moor Road, North Lane, Avon Drive and Linden Close are lined with semis and detached homes. The 2021 Census for the ward counted 5,622 households: 54% semi-detached, 22% detached, 13% terraced and 11% flats, with 68% owner-occupied and 20% without a car.
Around North Moor Road (LSOA York 004B) homes are bigger and more often owned: 35% detached and 44% semi-detached, 79% owner-occupied and 31% of households with two or more vehicles.
Huntington drive work usually means:
- Replacing a 1960s–1980s drive on a semi or bungalow.
- Widening for a second car where the front lawn allows.
- A permeable drive on homes near the Foss, to avoid adding to run-off.
- Small entrance changes in the Old Village, where character matters.
Sand, the river and flood zones
The British Geological Survey maps the area around North Moor Road on the Sutton Sand Formation over Sherwood Sandstone. Sand drains well, so permeable surfaces work naturally. It also needs a firm, compacted sub-base on a membrane to stop the drive rutting, and edges fixed in concrete.
The River Foss is the other big factor. The Environment Agency's flood map shows 9 Flood Zone 3 and 9 Flood Zone 2 areas within 300 metres of the census area. Before you plan a drive:
- check your address on the flood map,
- keep levels at least 150mm below the damp-proof course and do not raise the garden,
- choose a permeable surface or drain to a soakaway on your own land, not the road.
Conservation areas and crossings
Huntington conservation area covers the Old Village. Just to the south-west, New Earswick conservation area takes in the garden village, where whole runs of houses on Sycamore Avenue and Sycamore Place are listed. In either area, ask City of York Council's planning team before changing front boundaries, and expect listed houses to need listed building consent.
Outside them, a permeable new 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.
Dropping the kerb. City of York Council charges £263 for an approved crossing, £131.50 to improve an existing one and £63 if refused, none refundable. The council's decision is final. If a utility cover or a gully sits where the crossing would go, moving it can be expensive. On the ring road side and other classified roads, gates should be at least 6 metres back. See our dropped kerbs page.
Costs in Huntington
For a 30m² drive at Checkatrade's April 2026 UK averages:
| Surface | Per m² | 30m² |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel with a grid | about £60 | roughly £1,800 |
| Tarmac | about £90 | roughly £2,700 |
| Block paving | about £100 | roughly £3,000 |
| Resin bound | about £120 | roughly £3,600 |
Permeable block paving costs a little more than standard blocks but is usually worth it near the Foss. Breaking out old concrete and the council's crossing fee are extras.
Gravel in a stabilising grid is the cheapest permeable option and works well on sandy ground, but it can spread onto the footway if the drive slopes towards the road. A block-paved apron at the entrance keeps stones off the pavement. Tarmac is quick to lay and hard-wearing, though a standard tarmac drive needs drainage to the garden to stay within permitted development.
Neighbouring areas
- Driveways in Haxby: North-west across the Foss, a town of detached homes.
- Driveways in Heworth: South towards the city, with interwar semis on clay.
- Driveways in Osbaldwick: South-east, another village swallowed by York's suburbs.
Good options in Huntington: gravel, block paving, tarmac.
All the areas we cover: Where we work.
Questions people ask in Huntington
Is Huntington at risk of flooding from the Foss?
Some land within 300 metres of North Moor Road is in mapped Flood Zones 2 and 3. Check your address on the Environment Agency's flood map and keep the drive permeable.
Is the Old Village a conservation area?
Yes. Huntington conservation area covers the Old Village, and New Earswick has its own. Ask City of York Council before changing walls or entrances there.
Does sandy ground make a drive cheaper?
It can, because water drains away without extra soakaways. You still need a compacted stone base and firm edges.
What does a York dropped kerb cost?
City of York Council charges £263 if it approves, £131.50 to improve an existing crossing and £63 if it refuses. Building the crossing costs extra.
Sources: ONS Census 2021, Huntington & New Earswick ward and LSOA York 004B (TS044, TS045, TS054 via Nomis); Wikipedia: Huntington, North Yorkshire; Planning Data: conservation areas and listed buildings; 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).