How much does a front garden driveway cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Expect front garden driveways in Edinburgh and the Lothians to come in at around £85–£140 per m², including VAT at 20%. As an example, a 50 m² double drive usually comes to between £4,250 and £7,000.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Concrete block driveway, new sub-base | £85–£140 per m² |
| Breaking out an old surface | £10–£40 per m² |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,000–£3,000 |
Guide figures for Scotland, checked 9 November 2026.
Towns we cover in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Choose a town for local prices and details for front garden drives:
- Livingston
- Musselburgh
- Bathgate
- Bonnyrigg
- Penicuik
- Broxburn
- Linlithgow
- Armadale
- Dalkeith
- Tranent
- Whitburn
- Dunbar
- Prestonpans
- Haddington
What is included?
We check those three things before anything else. A typical small front garden needs the boundary wall or hedge opened, the ground dug out, a sub-base built and the surface laid so rain drains into a planted strip or through permeable blocks. Keeping a narrow planted border is often what makes the drainage work.
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within the property whatever its size, so drainage is part of every design.
- Permeable blocks or falls to a planted border
- Optional bin store area, planting strip and low edging
- Advice on the dropped kerb application before work starts
- Dig-out, sub-base and edging
- Space check: car length, door swing and the gap to the pavement
What the survey covers
- Edges against lawns, beds, walls and neighbours
- Trees and roots near the drive
- Whether front-garden planning rules apply
- The kerb: is it already dropped, and is it wide enough?
- Steps, thresholds and door heights
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
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.
Front garden drives in Edinburgh and the Lothians: questions
Do you cover Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate?
Yes. We cover all of Edinburgh and the Lothians, including Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate.
What happens to my old drive?
It is broken out and taken away by skip or grab lorry, listed as its own line on your quote.
Can you match the blocks to my house in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
We bring samples to the survey and suggest blocks and borders that suit the age and brick of the house. Final colour is your choice.
Do I need planning permission for a front garden driveway in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
In Scotland, front paving must be porous or drain within your boundary at any size, and permitted development does not apply in conservation areas. Ask us on the survey if you are unsure.
