Drainage for tarmac drives in Kent
Drainage for tarmac drives in Kent are priced from a site survey and an itemised specification, adjusted for the South East rates.

How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Kent?
Rates in Kent follow the South East, about 10% above our UK midpoint.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Linear drainage channel | £66–£132 per metre |
| Soakaway or crate unit | £720–£2,200 each |
Towns we cover in Kent
- Maidstone
- Gillingham
- Chatham
- Tunbridge Wells
- Folkestone
- Margate
- Ashford, Kent
- Canterbury
- Sittingbourne
- Gravesend
- Dartford
- Ramsgate
- Dover
- Tonbridge
- Strood
- Whitstable
- Deal
- Sevenoaks
- Rochester
- Herne Bay
- Broadstairs
- Faversham
- Swanley
- Swanscombe
Postcode areas: BR, CT, DA, ME, RM, TN.
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 Kent
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.
Drainage for tarmac drives in Kent: questions
How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Kent?
As a 2026 guide, about £66–£132 per metre inc VAT in Kent. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Kent do you cover?
Maidstone, Gillingham, Chatham, Tunbridge Wells, Folkestone, Margate, Ashford, Kent, Canterbury and more.
How long does tarmac driveway drainage take?
Usually part of the main build; a soakaway adds about a day.
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.
Other services in Kent
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