How Much Does Groundworks & Drainage Cost in the UK?

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.

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.

If your driveway is an impermeable surface (tarmac, imprinted concrete, solid 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.

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.

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.