Edges, drainage and kerbs

Drainage for tarmac drives in Greater London

Drainage for tarmac drives in Greater London are priced from a site survey and an itemised specification, adjusted for London rates.

GREATER LONDON GUIDE£72–£144 per metre inc VAT
Steel slot drainage channel across a tarmac drive at a garage door, typical of tarmac driveway drainage work

How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Greater London?

Rates in Greater London follow London, about 20% above our UK midpoint.

ItemGuide price (inc VAT)
Linear drainage channel£72–£144 per metre
Soakaway or crate unit£780–£2,400 each

Towns we cover in Greater London

Postcode areas: BR, CR, DA, E, EC, EN, HA, IG, KT, N, NW, RM, SE, SL, SM, SW, TW, UB, W, WC.

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 Greater London

In 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. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.

How it is built

Channelslot or grated linear drainBedconcrete surroundSoakawaycrates or rubble, wrappedFalls1:60–1:80 across the surfaceINDICATIVE CROSS-SECTION · NOT TO SCALE

Drainage for tarmac drives in Greater London: questions

How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Greater London?

As a 2026 guide, about £72–£144 per metre inc VAT in Greater London. The survey confirms a fixed price.

Which towns in Greater London do you cover?

Brent, Islington, Westminster, Bexley, Barking, Sutton, Croydon, Ilford and more.

How long does tarmac driveway drainage take?

Usually part of the main build; a soakaway adds about a day.

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.

Other services in Greater London

Free survey for new surfacing

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
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