A new driveway is a hard-wearing surface for parking, such as block paving, resin bound gravel, tarmac or gravel, laid on an excavated and compacted sub-base with edging and drainage designed to carry vehicle loads and handle rainwater.
Whether you live in one of the larger towns, such as Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh and Bathgate, or somewhere quieter in Edinburgh and the Lothians, the way we handle a new driveway is identical. We survey, agree the specification with you, and confirm a fixed price on paper. Everything is planned under the regulations in force in Scotland, and guide costs in Scotland sit at £3,800–£8,600 with VAT.
- Guide price
- £3,800–£8,600 inc VAT
- Time on site
- 3–7 days on site
- Planning rules
- Scotland
- Price level
- About 4% below the national guide
- Towns listed
- 7
- Survey
- Free, with a written quote
How much does a new driveway cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Prices for a new driveway vary from house to house, but in Edinburgh and the Lothians most projects fall within £3,800–£8,600 including VAT. That reflects costs in Scotland, about 4% below the national guide. Treat the table as a budgeting aid; the written figure follows a survey we carry out for free.
| Type of job | What it usually involves | Guide in Edinburgh and the Lothians |
|---|---|---|
| Gravel or tarmac | A typical 40–50m² drive in gravel on a grid, or tarmac with block edging. | £1,900–£4,800 |
| Block paving or resin bound | A typical 40–50m² drive with sub-base, edging and drainage. | £3,800–£8,600 |
| Large or premium driveway | Larger drives, natural stone, walls, steps or a new dropped kerb. | £7,700–£15,500 |
The main things that change the figure:
- Driveway area and the depth of excavation needed
- Surface: gravel, tarmac, block paving, resin or stone
- Drainage, soakaways and changes in level
- Access for machinery and removal of spoil
What’s included?
- Survey of levels, drainage, manholes and access
- Excavation and removal of the old surface and soil
- Weed membrane and compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base
- Edging kerbs or restraints to hold the surface in place
- Manhole covers raised or replaced to new levels
- Site cleared and waste removed
Homes in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Edinburgh's New Town is a planned Georgian sandstone townscape within a World Heritage Site, and districts such as Marchmont and Leith have Victorian tenements. Bungalows and villas fill the suburbs, Midlothian has former mining villages, Livingston was built as a new town, and East Lothian villages often have red pantile roofs.
Listed and conservation-area homes need careful window and stone repairs. Bungalows commonly suit loft conversions and dormers, and suburban semis take extensions and garage conversions.
East-coast weather brings cold winds, haar and frost, and exposed hills around the city catch wind-driven rain.
Planning and building rules in Edinburgh and the Lothians
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland each handle planning a little differently. Edinburgh and the Lothians comes under Scotland, covered below, and we raise any questions with the council before your quote is finalised.
In Scotland, a hard surface in front of a house is usually permitted development if it is permeable or drains within the property. A dropped kerb or road opening needs consent from the council as roads authority.
A building warrant is not normally needed for a driveway.
Rules change and every property is different, so we check the planning history and constraints for your address before we quote.
How does the job run?
Survey and measure
We begin by looking at the job in person. During the free survey we discuss options, materials and budget for a new driveway, and photograph or measure anything the quote needs to reflect.
Quote in writing
You get the price in writing, itemised so you can see where the money goes. As long as the specification stays the same, that is the price you pay for a new driveway.
Dates and permissions
Before anyone starts, we confirm the programme in writing, check whether consents are required and arrange deliveries. If a skip or scaffolding on the road needs a permit, we apply for it.
The work itself
During the work we protect the areas around it and tidy up at the end of each day. Once complete, we check the finish, remove our materials and hand over paperwork such as building control sign-off where it applies.
How we work
Questions about a new driveway in Edinburgh and the Lothians
Is the price fixed?
Yes, for the specification we agree. Your written quote sets out exactly what is included at a fixed price. It only changes if you ask for something different, or if a problem the survey could not reasonably reveal later needs extra work. In either case we explain the change and confirm it in writing before going ahead.
Do I need permission for a dropped kerb?
A dropped kerb lets vehicles cross the pavement onto your drive, and creating or widening one needs consent from your local highways authority. They usually check visibility, the distance from junctions and trees, and whether there is enough space to park off the road. Many councils carry out the kerb work themselves or use approved contractors. We can help with the application.
Can I use my car during the work?
You will not be able to park on the driveway while it is being dug out and laid, so plan to park on the street or nearby for the duration. We keep a safe pedestrian route to your front door where possible. After completion, block paving and tarmac can usually be driven on straight away, while resin and concrete need a short curing period first.
Can I stay at home during the work?
In most cases, yes. Most people can live at home throughout, and we plan the work to keep disruption down by protecting floors, agreeing working hours and keeping access routes clear. Bigger jobs affecting kitchens, bathrooms or heating may mean a short spell with reduced facilities, and we talk this through with you at the survey.
How do you stop a driveway flooding?
A driveway stays dry when rainwater can drain away rather than pooling or running towards the house. Permeable surfaces such as resin bound gravel or permeable block paving let water soak through to the ground. Non-permeable surfaces need falls directing water to a channel drain, soakaway or garden border. We check levels and drainage during the survey and design the falls accordingly.
Towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians
We offer a new driveway in each of the towns below, all within Edinburgh and the Lothians. Select yours for guide prices, postcodes covered and nearby places.