How much does a cobble-effect block drive cost in Argyll and Bute?
Expect cobble-effect block drives in Argyll and Bute to come in at around £100–£160 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 50 m² drive usually comes to between £5,000 and £8,000.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Tumbled or cobble-effect concrete block driveway | £100–£160 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.
Towns we cover in Argyll and Bute
We quote cobble-effect paving in every town across Argyll and Bute, including:
What does a cobble-effect block drive involve?
Tumbled block paving is concrete block that has been rumbled or treated after making so the edges are rounded and the faces look worn. Cobble-effect ranges add three or more block sizes laid in a random or coursed pattern, which gives the look of old setts without their cost or rough surface.
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within the property whatever its size, so drainage is part of every design.
- Jointing sand and compaction
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging as for any block drive
- Colour and size mix chosen on the survey
- Mixed sizes laid to a planned random or coursed pattern
- Edge cuts blended into curves and corners
What the survey covers
- Access for a mini-digger, skip or grab lorry
- Where rain will go: falls, lawn, border, channel or soakaway
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
- Existing manhole and inspection covers, and whether to recess them
Rules for front drives in Argyll and Bute
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.
How it works
Send the basics
Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.
Survey
We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.
Written quote
An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.
The work
Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.
Cobble-effect paving in Argyll and Bute: questions
How long does a cobble-effect block drive take to build?
Most homes take between three and seven working days, depending on size, the dig and the drainage. Your quote gives the expected duration.
Do you cover Helensburgh, Dunoon and Oban?
Yes. We cover all of Argyll and Bute, including Helensburgh, Dunoon and Oban.
How much does a cobble-effect block drive cost in Argyll and Bute?
Our guide for Argyll and Bute is £100–£160 per m² including VAT, so a 50 m² drive is usually about £5,000–£8,000. Your fixed price follows the survey.
Is the survey in Argyll and Bute free?
In Argyll and Bute we cover jobs by arrangement. We will confirm before any visit whether a charge applies, and many jobs can be priced from photos first.
