Front garden to tarmac driveway in Edinburgh and the Lothians
We survey and price front garden driveway conversions across Edinburgh and the Lothians, from Edinburgh to Livingston and Musselburgh, with every layer written into the quote.
How much does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Rates in Edinburgh and the Lothians follow Scotland, about 2% below our UK midpoint.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| New black tarmac drive, full dig-out and new sub-base | £59–£93 per m² |
| Example: 20 m² drive | £1,300–£2,050 |
| Example: 30 m² drive | £1,950–£3,050 |
| Example: 45 m² drive | £2,650–£4,200 |
Towns we cover in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Edinburgh
- Livingston
- Musselburgh
- Bathgate
- Bonnyrigg
- Penicuik
- Broxburn
- Linlithgow
- Dalkeith
- Armadale
- Tranent
- Whitburn
- Dunbar
- Prestonpans
- Haddington
Postcode areas: EH, ML.
What is included?
A front garden conversion turns lawn or planting into a parking space: the ground is excavated, a stone sub-base laid, tarmac surfaced on top, and a lowered kerb arranged so a car can cross the pavement legally.
- Check the space: length, width and gate posts for a car
- Highway authority dropped kerb application guided or handled for you
- Sub-base and two tarmac courses, or porous asphalt
- Kerbs or blocks as edge restraint
- Water directed to a border, soakaway or channel
- A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks
Rules in Edinburgh and the Lothians
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
Front garden to tarmac driveway in Edinburgh and the Lothians: questions
How much does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
As a 2026 guide, about £59–£93 per m² inc VAT in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians do you cover?
Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh, Bathgate, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik, Broxburn, Linlithgow and more.
How long does a front garden driveway conversion take?
Usually 2–4 working days, after the kerb approval.
How much does it cost to turn a front garden into a drive?
The tarmac work is typically about £60–£95 per m² including VAT for a full build. A 30 m² space is often about £2,000–£3,150 before edging. The dropped kerb is extra and depends on your council.
Other services in Edinburgh and the Lothians
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