Tarmac paths and footpaths in the Scottish Borders

How much does a tarmac path cost in the Scottish Borders?

Rates in the Scottish Borders follow Scotland, 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

Towns we cover in the Scottish Borders

Postcode areas: EH, TD.

What is included?

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
MOT Type 1 base, about 100 mm, compacted
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

Rules in the Scottish Borders

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