How much does a drive drainage job cost in West Sussex?
Guide price in West Sussex: £380–£1,100 including VAT. These are South East 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 | £380–£1,100 |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £380–£1,100 |
| Soakaway | £970–£2,150 |
| Highway authority dropped kerb application fee | £60–£540 |
Guide figures for the South East, checked 9 November 2026.
Towns we cover in West Sussex
We quote drainage in every town across West Sussex, including:
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.
Chalk, clay and sandy ground all occur across the South East, so the dig and sub-base depth are set on the survey rather than assumed.
- Levels survey and a falls plan
- Soakaway crates or rubble soakaways where ground allows
- Linear channel drains with gratings rated for cars
- Connection to an existing surface water gully where permitted
- Threshold drainage at doors and garages
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
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
Rules for front drives in West Sussex
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 West Sussex: questions
How much does a drive drainage job cost in West Sussex?
Guide price: £380–£1,100 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in West Sussex?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Who approves a drive drainage job in West Sussex?
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 Crawley, Worthing and Bognor Regis?
Yes. We cover all of West Sussex, including Crawley, Worthing and Bognor Regis.
