Tar and chip driveways in Argyll and Bute
Across in Argyll and Bute, we cover 3 towns for tar and chip driveways, including Helensburgh, Dunoon and Oban.
How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in Argyll and Bute?
Rates in Argyll and Bute follow Scotland, about 8% above our UK midpoint. Work here is by arrangement because of travel and haulage.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base | £49–£81 per m² |
| Example: 50 m² drive | £2,450–£4,050 |
| Example: 100 m² drive | £4,850–£8,100 |
| Example: 200 m² drive | £9,200–£15,350 |
Towns we cover in Argyll and Bute
Postcode areas: G, PA.
What is included?
Tar and chip, also called surface dressing, is a layer of bitumen sprayed onto a prepared base and immediately covered with stone chippings, which are rolled in so the surface looks like gravel but behaves like a bound drive.
- Base prepared: new MOT Type 1 sub-base, or an existing sound tarmac or stone base
- Edges set with kerbs, setts or cobbles
- Chippings spread straight onto the binder
- Rolled to bed the stones in
- Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
- Second coat where a double dressing is specified
Rules in Argyll and Bute
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
Tar and chip driveways in Argyll and Bute: questions
How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in Argyll and Bute?
As a 2026 guide, about £49–£81 per m² inc VAT in Argyll and Bute. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Argyll and Bute do you cover?
Helensburgh, Dunoon, Oban, by arrangement.
How long does a tar and chip driveway take?
Often 1–3 days depending on base work.
How much does a tar and chip driveway cost?
As a 2026 guide, about £45–£75 per m² including VAT with a new sub-base. On an existing sound base it costs less; the saving over tarmac grows on bigger areas because spraying is quick once the equipment is on site.
Other services in Argyll and Bute
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