Drainage for tarmac drives in Argyll and Bute
Looking for drainage jobs in Argyll and Bute? Start with a guide price, then a survey that turns it into a fixed, written specification.

How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Argyll and Bute?
Rates in Argyll and Bute follow Scotland, about 8% above our UK midpoint. Work here is by arrangement because of travel and haulage.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Linear drainage channel | £65–£129 per metre |
| Soakaway or crate unit | £700–£2,150 each |
Towns we cover in Argyll and Bute
Postcode areas: G, PA.
What is included?
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.
- 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
Rules in Argyll and Bute
In Scotland, permitted development allows a hard surface between a house and a road only if it is porous or the water drains to a porous area within the property. Unlike England there is no 5 m² allowance, so it applies to any size. Conservation areas and the grounds of listed buildings have extra restrictions. The council, as roads authority, controls any new or widened access across a footway.
How it is built
Drainage for tarmac drives in Argyll and Bute: questions
How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Argyll and Bute?
As a 2026 guide, about £65–£129 per metre inc VAT in Argyll and Bute. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Argyll and Bute do you cover?
Helensburgh, Dunoon, Oban, by arrangement.
How long does tarmac driveway drainage take?
Usually part of the main build; a soakaway adds about a day.
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.
Other services in Argyll and Bute
Get a written tarmac quote
Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.
- Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
- Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
- Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
- Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED