Tarmac Driveway Drainage | Channels and Soakaways

Driveway drainage is the plan for where rainwater goes once it hits a sealed tarmac surface: the falls that move it, the channels or gullies that catch it, and the soakaway, border or approved drain that takes it away.

What is included in tarmac driveway drainage?

Falls set across the drive, typically 1 in 60 to 1 in 80
Linear channel at garages, doors or the bottom of a slope
Soakaway or crate unit sized to the area and ground
Runoff directed to borders or a permeable strip
Connection to an existing surface-water drain where allowed
No connection to the foul sewer

How is it built?

How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost?

As a 2026 guide at our UK midpoint rate, £60–£120 per metre inc VAT. Edging, drainage and access are itemised separately where they apply.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Linear drainage channel	£60–£120 per metre
Soakaway or crate unit	£650–£2,000 each

Rates vary by region:

Region	Guide (inc VAT)
London	£72–£144 per metre
South East	£66–£132 per metre
East of England	£63–£126 per metre
South West	£62–£124 per metre
West Midlands	£60–£120 per metre
East Midlands	£59–£118 per metre
North West	£58–£116 per metre
Yorkshire and the Humber	£58–£115 per metre
North East	£56–£112 per metre
Wales	£57–£114 per metre
Scotland	£59–£118 per metre
Northern Ireland	£53–£106 per metre

Guides only. Your survey turns these into a fixed written price. Full price list · Guide price tool

When it suits

Drives that slope to the house or garage
Front gardens needing to avoid a planning application
Car parks where water stands in bays

Watch out for

Soakaways should sit at least 5 m from buildings and need ground that drains
Never connect driveway water to a foul sewer
Channels need clearing of leaves and silt once or twice a year

How long does it take and how long does it last?

On site: Usually part of the main build; a soakaway adds about a day
Lifespan: Decades if channels are kept clear

Do I need planning permission?

It depends where you live and where the water goes.

England: A new hard surface over 5 m² in front of a house needs planning permission unless it is porous or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property.
Wales: New front hardstanding should be porous or drain to a permeable area within the property, and work covering 100 m² or more with drainage effects usually needs SAB approval first.
Scotland: A hard surface between the house and a road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, whatever its size.
Northern Ireland: More than 5 m² of hard surface in front of a house should be porous or drain to a porous area within the property; DfI Roads approves dropped kerbs.

Dropped kerbs always need the highway authority's approval: the council in England, Wales and Scotland, and DfI Roads in Northern Ireland. Read the full planning guide.

What happens next?

Tell us about the job
Use the guide price tool, the form, WhatsApp or the phone. A postcode, rough size and a couple of photos are enough to start.
Survey and measure
We check the ground, levels, edges, drainage and access, and the planning and kerb position where it applies.
Written specification and price
You get an itemised quote listing every layer, the edging, drainage, waste and VAT. The price is fixed once the spec is agreed.
Build day
Dig-out and base first, then hot binder and surface course rolled in, edges finished and the site cleared. You get aftercare notes before we leave.

Drainage for tarmac drives: questions

How much does driveway drainage cost?

As a 2026 guide, linear channels are about £60–£120 per metre and a soakaway about £650–£2,000 including VAT, depending on size and ground.

Where should the water from my drive go?

Ideally to a lawn, border or soakaway within your property. That also keeps a new front drive in England within permitted development if it is over 5 m².

Why does water pool on my tarmac drive?

Usually the falls are too flat or the base has sunk in places. A channel can help, but a dip in the surface needs a repair or overlay to remove it.

Can driveway water run onto the road?

Highway authorities generally do not want new drives discharging onto the road or footway, and in England it can mean the drive needs planning permission. Keep it on your own land where you can.

Where do we offer tarmac driveway drainage work?

Across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.

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