Front garden to tarmac driveway in Edinburgh
Homeowners in Edinburgh ask us about front garden driveway conversions for the same reason: a surface that stays flat, drains properly and still looks tidy in ten years. That comes down to the build underneath.
What does a front garden driveway conversion cost in Edinburgh?
Local guide rates for Edinburgh (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 |
As a 2026 guide in Edinburgh, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £59–£93 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,650–£4,200. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.
Where we work in and around Edinburgh
Edinburgh at a glance. We cover Edinburgh as part of our regular Edinburgh and the Lothians rounds.
- Postcodes
- EH1, EH2, EH3, EH8, EH7, EH9, EH6, EH5
- Area
- Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Nearest towns
- Musselburgh (6 miles), Dalkeith (6 miles), Bonnyrigg (6 miles), Dalgety Bay (8 miles)
- Pricing
- Scotland, about 2% below our UK midpoint
- Kerb approvals
- The council
We also cover nearby Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg, Dalgety Bay, Prestonpans.
The build-up we price
What the price covers
Turning a lawn or front garden into off-road parking: dig, base, tarmac, kerb crossing and planting.
- Check the space: length, width and gate posts for a car
- Highway authority dropped kerb application guided or handled for you
- Lawn, hedge roots and topsoil removed
- Sub-base and two tarmac courses, or porous asphalt
- A planted strip kept where it helps drainage and looks
Planning and kerb rules for Edinburgh
In Scotland, a hard surface between the house and a road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, whatever its size. Any new or widened crossing over the pavement needs approval from the council as roads authority.
Questions about front garden driveway conversions in Edinburgh
Front garden driveway conversion cost in Edinburgh: what should I budget?
As a 2026 guide in Edinburgh, front garden driveway conversion work runs at about £59–£93 per m² including VAT, so a 45 m² drive is roughly £2,650–£4,200. Edging, drainage and a dropped kerb are priced separately where needed.
How long will the work take at my Edinburgh property?
Usually 2–4 working days, after the kerb approval. We book Edinburgh surveys alongside other jobs in Edinburgh and the Lothians, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.
Which Edinburgh postcodes do you cover?
We cover Edinburgh including EH1, EH2, EH3, EH8, EH7, EH9, and nearby Musselburgh, Dalkeith, Bonnyrigg.
Do I need permission for a front garden driveway conversion in Edinburgh?
In Scotland, a hard surface between the house and a road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a porous area within the property, whatever its size. Dropped kerbs are approved by the council as roads authority.
Also in Edinburgh
- Private and access road surfacing
- Tarmac paths and footpaths
- Car park resurfacing
- Tar and chip driveways
- Car park and yard repairs
- Permeable tarmac driveways
- Everything in Edinburgh
Ready for a price in Edinburgh? Use the guide price tool or send the form, and we'll arrange a visit.
Front garden to tarmac driveway in Edinburgh: get a written 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