Drainage for tarmac drives in Northamptonshire
We survey and price drainage jobs across Northamptonshire, from Northampton to Corby and Kettering, with every layer written into the quote.

How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Northamptonshire?
Rates in Northamptonshire follow the East Midlands, about 2% below our UK midpoint.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Linear drainage channel | £59–£118 per metre |
| Soakaway or crate unit | £640–£1,950 each |
Towns we cover in Northamptonshire
Postcode areas: NN.
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 Northamptonshire
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
Drainage for tarmac drives in Northamptonshire: questions
How much does tarmac driveway drainage cost in Northamptonshire?
As a 2026 guide, about £59–£118 per metre inc VAT in Northamptonshire. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Northamptonshire do you cover?
Northampton, Corby, Kettering, Wellingborough, Rushden, Daventry.
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 Northamptonshire
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