How much does a drive drainage job cost in Devon?
Guide price in Devon: £350–£1,000 including VAT. These are South West 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 the South West, checked 9 November 2026.
Towns we cover in Devon
We quote drainage in every town across Devon, including:
What is included?
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.
The South West is wetter than the east of England, so falls and drainage are planned before the pattern is chosen.
- Connection to an existing surface water gully where permitted
- Threshold drainage at doors and garages
- Soakaway crates or rubble soakaways where ground allows
- Linear channel drains with gratings rated for cars
- Levels survey and a falls plan
What the survey covers
- Access and working space
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Where water collects now and where it can go
Rules for front drives in Devon
In England, paving in front of the house that covers more than 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway inside your boundary. Permeable block paving, or standard blocks laid to fall onto a planted strip, avoid the need for permission in most cases.
Flats and maisonettes, listed buildings, and homes covered by an Article 4 direction can have tighter rules, and conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes restrict some permitted development.
A dropped kerb needs your local highway authority's approval (usually the county, unitary, metropolitan or London borough council), and a new access onto an A, B or C classified road also needs planning permission.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
How it works
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
Drainage in Devon: questions
Who approves a drive drainage job in Devon?
For a dropped kerb, your local highway authority (usually your council). 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 Plymouth, Exeter and Paignton?
Yes. We cover all of Devon, including Plymouth, Exeter and Paignton.
How much does a drive drainage job cost in Devon?
Guide price: £350–£1,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Devon?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
