Tar and chip driveways in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Looking for tar and chip driveways in Edinburgh and the Lothians? Start with a guide price, then a survey that turns it into a fixed, written specification.
How much does a tar and chip driveway 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) |
|---|---|
| Tar and chip drive with a new sub-base | £44–£74 per m² |
| Example: 50 m² drive | £2,200–£3,700 |
| Example: 100 m² drive | £4,400–£7,350 |
| Example: 200 m² drive | £8,400–£13,950 |
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?
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
- Hot bitumen or emulsion sprayed evenly
- Chippings spread straight onto the binder
- Rolled to bed the stones in
- Second coat where a double dressing is specified
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
Tar and chip driveways in Edinburgh and the Lothians: questions
How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
As a 2026 guide, about £44–£74 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 tar and chip driveway take?
Often 1–3 days depending on base work.
Will the stones come loose?
A few loose chippings are normal at first and are swept up. Once bedded in by traffic, the surface holds well. A double dressing gives a tighter finish.
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