Drainage for tarmac drives in Highland and Moray
Across in Highland and Moray, we cover 5 towns for drainage jobs, including Inverness, Elgin and Fort William.

How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Highland and Moray?
Rates in Highland and Moray 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 Highland and Moray
Postcode areas: IV, PH.
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 Highland and Moray
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 Highland and Moray: questions
How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Highland and Moray?
As a 2026 guide, about £65–£129 per metre inc VAT in Highland and Moray. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Highland and Moray do you cover?
Inverness, Elgin, Fort William, Nairn, Forres, 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 Highland and Moray
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