Bristol and Gloucester Paving

Groundworks & Drainage Across the South West & South Wales

Free no-obligation site visit · Fixed written price · No deposit · Fully insured · 20+ years experience

Get Free Quote 07578 180526
Groundworks & Drainage Specialists

Professional Groundworks & Drainage Installation

Proper groundwork preparation is what separates a driveway that lasts 30 years from one that sinks, cracks or puddles within three. Every successful paving, driveway or patio project starts with correct groundwork — the right excavation depth, the correct compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base specification, engineered drainage falls, and a soakaway or channel drain system where required. We handle all site excavation, spoil removal, levelling, sub-base installation, drainage and manhole adjustment to the correct specification for each job. SuDS (Sustainable Drainage Systems) compliance is a legal requirement for all new impermeable surfaces, and we survey every site to ensure the drainage solution meets current Environment Act requirements. Whether you need a standalone drainage survey, soakaway installation, a channel drain system, or complete site preparation ahead of other contractors, we cover it all. Fully insured, all work to Building Regulations standards where applicable.

Fully Insured

£5M public liability

20+ Years

Trade experience

5-Star Rated

23 verified reviews

Fixed Price

No hidden extras

What's Included

Everything in Your Groundworks & Drainage Quote

  • Site survey and drainage assessment
  • Excavation to correct depth & all spoil disposed off site
  • Soil disposal and precision levelling
  • 100–200mm compacted MOT Type 1 sub-base installation
  • Channel drains and soakaway installation where required
  • Perforated drainage pipe and geotextile membrane
  • Manhole raising, adjusting and recoverting to finished level
  • Kerb and edging installation
Why Choose Us

The Benefits

  • Full SuDS drainage survey included — every job meets current Environment Act requirements
  • Correct excavation depth and sub-base specification for the surface above and vehicle loads
  • Channel drains and soakaways installed to Building Regulations standards
  • All excavated spoil removed from site — nothing left for you to deal with
  • Manhole adjustment handled in-house — no separate contractor needed
  • 20+ years experience, fully insured, all groundworks to correct specification

Typical Lifespan

How long it lasts

Permanent — the sub-base and drainage are the foundation everything else rests on

Planning Permission

Do you need it?

Groundworks and sub-base preparation itself generally does not require planning permission. However, connection to existing drainage systems, installation of soakaways near boundaries, or any work affecting public sewers may need building control notification or drainage consent. We navigate all of this as part of every project — you won't need to contact the council separately.

Our Work

Recent Groundworks & Drainage Installations

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Where We Install

Groundworks & Drainage in 29 Locations

Serving South West England, South Wales and the Midlands fringe. Find your town or city below for a dedicated local page.

Groundworks & Drainage BristolGroundworks & Drainage GloucesterGroundworks & Drainage CardiffGroundworks & Drainage NewportGroundworks & Drainage CheltenhamGroundworks & Drainage BathGroundworks & Drainage SwindonGroundworks & Drainage Weston-super-MareGroundworks & Drainage ChippenhamGroundworks & Drainage StroudGroundworks & Drainage TewkesburyGroundworks & Drainage YateGroundworks & Drainage ThornburyGroundworks & Drainage KeynshamGroundworks & Drainage TrowbridgeGroundworks & Drainage CalneGroundworks & Drainage CorshamGroundworks & Drainage CwmbranGroundworks & Drainage BridgendGroundworks & Drainage BarryGroundworks & Drainage CaerphillyGroundworks & Drainage PenarthGroundworks & Drainage PontypriddGroundworks & Drainage MonmouthGroundworks & Drainage EveshamGroundworks & Drainage ColefordGroundworks & Drainage CinderfordGroundworks & Drainage LydneyGroundworks & Drainage Newent
FAQs

Groundworks & Drainage — Questions Answered

What is MOT Type 1 sub-base and why does it matter?
MOT Type 1 (also called crusher run, granular fill or hardcore) is crushed angular aggregate — typically limestone or granite — compacted in layers to form a solid, load-bearing foundation beneath driveways, paths and patios. Without a correctly compacted sub-base at the right depth, surfaces sink, rock and crack under vehicle loads. It's the single most important element of any driveway installation.
How deep does a driveway sub-base need to be?
100–150mm of compacted MOT Type 1 is standard for residential driveways with regular car traffic. For heavy vehicles (vans, caravans, HGVs) or poor ground conditions (clay, made-up ground), we specify 150–200mm or more. We assess ground conditions during your free site survey and specify the correct depth before quoting.
Do I need a soakaway for my new driveway?
If your driveway is an impermeable surface (tarmac or solid-jointed block paving) and surface water cannot drain naturally to a lawn or garden, you need a drainage solution. This is typically a soakaway (a perforated crate or trench filled with granular material) fed by a channel drain across the base of the driveway. Permeable surfaces like resin bound and open-jointed block paving drain through the surface itself and don't need this.
What does SuDS mean and does my driveway need to comply?
SuDS stands for Sustainable Drainage Systems — a set of requirements under the Environment Act designed to prevent surface water flooding by ensuring new impermeable surfaces have a drainage plan. In practice, this means your new tarmac or concrete driveway needs channel drains or a soakaway rather than allowing water to run into the highway. We assess and include SuDS-compliant drainage in every relevant quote.
Can you raise a manhole cover as part of my driveway?
Yes — adjusting manholes to the correct finished level is a standard part of most driveway jobs. We raise, adjust and re-cover manholes to the new finished surface level as part of the quoted work. You don't need a separate drainage contractor. We can handle recessed manhole covers that blend with the surrounding surface, or standard cast-iron covers.

Ready for your groundworks & drainage quote?

We'll visit, measure up, and give you a fixed-price written quote with no obligation. No deposit required to book the work.

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