Tar and chip driveways in the Forth Valley
We survey and price tar and chip driveways across the Forth Valley, from Stirling to Falkirk and Alloa, with every layer written into the quote.
How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in the Forth Valley?
Rates in the Forth Valley 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 the Forth Valley
Postcode areas: EH, FK.
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
- Loose surplus chippings swept up after a few days
Rules in the Forth Valley
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 the Forth Valley: questions
How much does a tar and chip driveway cost in the Forth Valley?
As a 2026 guide, about £44–£74 per m² inc VAT in the Forth Valley. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in the Forth Valley do you cover?
Stirling, Falkirk, Alloa, Grangemouth, Bo'ness, Stenhousemuir, Larbert, Dunblane.
How long does a tar and chip driveway take?
Often 1–3 days depending on base work.
Can tar and chip go over my old tarmac?
Yes, if the old tarmac is sound. It is a cost-effective way to refresh a tired drive with a new look.
Other services in the Forth Valley
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