What to know before a block paved driveway in Dunbar
In and around Dunbar, village-style frontages sit alongside newer cul-de-sacs, so the right block often depends on the age of the house.
Frost and heavy rain test paving in Scotland, so a well-drained sub-base and full joints matter as much as the blocks.
In Scotland block paving is often called monoblock; it is the same thing, and the same rules for the base, edging and drainage apply.
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Dunbar?
For Dunbar, our guide is £85–£140 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is likely to be £4,250–£7,000. Smaller jobs cost more per square metre because set-up and waste costs do not shrink with the area.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £85–£140 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £10–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,000–£3,000 |
Guide figures for Scotland, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
A block paved driveway is a surface of small concrete or clay blocks laid tightly on a bed of sharp sand, held in by a fixed edge and locked together with kiln-dried jointing sand. Laid on a properly dug and compacted sub-base, it carries cars for decades, and a single damaged block can be lifted and replaced without breaking the surface.
- Edge restraints or kerbs bedded and haunched in concrete
- Survey, measurements and a written, itemised quote
- Sharp-sand laying course screeded to falls
- Crushed-stone sub-base laid in layers and compacted
- Removal of the old surface and soil to the agreed depth, with waste taken away
What the survey covers
- Ground conditions under the old surface and how deep the sub-base must be
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
Planning and kerb rules in Dunbar
Dunbar is in Scotland, so these rules apply:
In Scotland, a hard surface between the house and the road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a permeable area within the property. There is no 5 m² threshold: the rule applies whatever the size.
Hard surfaces are not permitted development in a conservation area or within the grounds of a listed building, so planning permission is needed there.
A dropped kerb needs consent from your council as roads authority under section 56 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, and planning permission may also be needed depending on the road.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
From enquiry to finished paving
Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.
What you can expect from us
One point of contact
You deal with one team from survey to sign-off, with work carried out by paving teams working under S&K.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Block paved driveways in Dunbar: questions
How much does a block paved driveway cost in Dunbar?
Our guide for Dunbar is £85–£140 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² double drive is usually about £4,250–£7,000. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Do I need planning permission for a block paved driveway in Dunbar?
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within your boundary at any size, and permitted development does not apply in conservation areas. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
Do you cover Haddington, Tranent and Prestonpans?
Yes. We cover Dunbar and the places around it, including Haddington, Tranent and Prestonpans, and the rest of Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Dunbar?
We bring samples to the survey and suggest blocks and borders that suit the age and brick of the house. Final colour is your choice.
Block paved driveways near Dunbar
Nearby towns we cover for block paved driveways, and block paved driveways across Edinburgh and the Lothians:
- Block paved driveways in Haddington
- Block paved driveways in Tranent
- Block paved driveways in Prestonpans
- Block paved driveways in Musselburgh
- Block paved driveways in Dalkeith
- Block paved driveways in Bonnyrigg
