Tarmac paths and footpaths in Dunbar

What does a tarmac path cost in Dunbar?

Guide prices below are for Dunbar, adjusted for Scotland, where surfacing rates run about 2% below our UK midpoint.

Item	Guide price (inc VAT)
Tarmac garden path or footpath, hand-laid	£54–£88 per m²
Example: 10 m² path	£650–£1,050
Example: 20 m² path	£1,200–£1,950
Example: 40 m² path	£2,150–£3,550

As a 2026 guide in Dunbar, tarmac path work runs at about £54–£88 per m² including VAT, so a 10 m² path is roughly £650–£1,050. Guide only; the survey confirms a fixed price.

Rules that apply in Dunbar

Repairs, paths and edging work rarely need planning permission. 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.

The build-up we price

Where we work in and around Dunbar

Dunbar at a glance. Dunbar is covered on our Edinburgh and the Lothians rounds, 27 miles from Edinburgh.

Postcodes: EH42
Area: Edinburgh and the Lothians
Nearest towns: Haddington (11 miles), Tranent (17 miles), Prestonpans (18 miles), Musselburgh (21 miles)
Pricing: Scotland, about 2% below our UK midpoint
Kerb approvals: The council

We also cover nearby Haddington, Tranent, Prestonpans, Musselburgh, Dalkeith.

What is included in a tarmac path?

A tarmac path is a lighter version of a drive build: a compacted stone base of around 100 mm, a binder course and a fine surface course, laid by hand and held in by timber edging, kerbs or blocks.

Path set out to the line and width you want
Excavation to about 150–180 mm with spoil removed
Timber, kerb or block edging on both sides
Binder and surface course laid hot by hand and rolled
Gentle cross-fall so water runs off to the border

Dunbar: common questions

How long will the work take at my Dunbar property?

Often 1–2 days. We book Dunbar surveys alongside other jobs in Edinburgh and the Lothians, and give you dates once the specification is agreed.

Are there planning or highway rules in Dunbar?

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.

Can I get a free survey in Dunbar?

Yes for new surfacing such as drives, paths, private roads and car parks. Small repairs are often priced from photos; if a visit is needed for a repair-only job, we tell you any charge first.

Do you cover all of Dunbar?

We cover Dunbar including EH42, and nearby Haddington, Tranent, Prestonpans.

Other work in Dunbar

Ready for a price in Dunbar? Use the guide price tool or send the form, and we'll arrange a visit.