How much does a drive drainage job cost in Argyll and Bute?
Guide price in Argyll and Bute: £350–£1,000 including VAT. These are Scotland guide figures; the survey or your photos confirm the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Channel drain run across a drive | £350–£1,000 |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
| Soakaway | £900–£2,000 |
| Highway authority dropped kerb application fee | £55–£500 |
Guide figures for Scotland, checked 9 November 2026.
Towns we cover in Argyll and Bute
We quote drainage in every town across Argyll and Bute, including:
What does a drive drainage job involve?
Drainage for block paving makes sure rain leaves the surface in a controlled way: falls in the paving direct it, channel drains collect it across openings, and a soakaway or approved connection takes it away. Standard block paving sheds most of its rain, so a drive without a plan for the water ends up with puddles, wet thresholds or water running onto the pavement.
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within the property whatever its size, so drainage is part of every design.
- Linear channel drains with gratings rated for cars
- Connection to an existing surface water gully where permitted
- Soakaway crates or rubble soakaways where ground allows
- Threshold drainage at doors and garages
- Levels survey and a falls plan
What the survey covers
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Access and working space
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
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.
Drainage in Argyll and Bute: questions
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Argyll and Bute?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
How much does a drive drainage job cost in Argyll and Bute?
Guide price: £350–£1,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Who approves a drive drainage job in Argyll and Bute?
For a dropped kerb, your council as roads authority. For drainage and covers on private land, no approval is usually needed, but connections to public sewers need the water company's consent.
Do you work in Helensburgh, Dunoon and Oban?
Yes. We cover all of Argyll and Bute, including Helensburgh, Dunoon and Oban.
