How much does a drive drainage job cost in Scottish Borders?
Most drive drainage job quotes in Scotland fall within £350–£1,000 including VAT, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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 Scottish Borders
We quote drainage in every town across the Scottish Borders, 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.
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within the property whatever its size, so drainage is part of every design.
- Levels survey and a falls plan
- Linear channel drains with gratings rated for cars
- Connection to an existing surface water gully where permitted
- Threshold drainage at doors and garages
- Soakaway crates or rubble soakaways where ground allows
What the survey covers
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Access and working space
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- How the new work ties into the paving
Rules for front drives in Scottish Borders
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.
Drainage in Scottish Borders: questions
Who approves a drive drainage job in Scottish Borders?
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.
How much does a drive drainage job cost in Scottish Borders?
Guide price: £350–£1,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Do you work in Hawick, Galashiels and Peebles?
Yes. We cover all of the Scottish Borders, including Hawick, Galashiels and Peebles.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Scottish Borders?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
