How much does a drive drainage job cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Guide price in Edinburgh and the Lothians: £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 Edinburgh and the Lothians
We quote drainage in every town across Edinburgh and the Lothians, including:
- Livingston
- Musselburgh
- Bathgate
- Bonnyrigg
- Penicuik
- Broxburn
- Linlithgow
- Armadale
- Dalkeith
- Tranent
- Whitburn
- Dunbar
- Prestonpans
- Haddington
What does a drive drainage job involve?
We design the falls first, then add channels only where they are needed, typically across a garage door, at the bottom of a drive sloping to the house, or where the drive meets the pavement. Where the rules require water to be dealt with on site, a soakaway or a permeable build is the usual answer.
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
- Levels survey and a falls plan
- Connection to an existing surface water gully where permitted
- Soakaway crates or rubble soakaways where ground allows
- Threshold drainage at doors and garages
What the survey covers
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Access and working space
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
Rules for front drives in Edinburgh and the Lothians
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
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 Edinburgh and the Lothians: questions
How much does a drive drainage job cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Guide price: £350–£1,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Do you work in Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate?
Yes. We cover all of Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate.
Who approves a drive drainage job in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
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.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
