East Lothian · Scotland
Cast iron and heritage bollards in Dunbar
Local installation of cast iron bollards in Dunbar — free survey, fixed written price, and posts set to the right spacing for people and vehicles.
Computer-generated imageDunbar cast iron bollards
In the town of Dunbar, cast iron bollards tend to go in at community buildings, filling-station forecourts and local parades. Traditional cast and ductile iron bollards for conservation areas, period streets and historic estates, installed and reset.
We work across EH42 and EH40 — Dunbar itself and places including West Barns, Innerwick, Spott and Whitekirk. Nearby, we also work in Tranent (17.4 miles) and Musselburgh (21.1 miles), measured as the crow flies. Dunbar is about 27 miles from Edinburgh.
Key facts for this area
- Area
- East Lothian, Scotland
- Roads authority
- East Lothian Council (local roads)
- Planning authority
- East Lothian Council
- Postcodes
- EH42 and EH40
- Guide price
- Typically £445–£1,695 per bollard + VAT (£525–£2,045 inc VAT for homes); minimum job £745
- Survey
- Free, with a fixed written quote
- Nearby
- Tranent (17.4 mi), Musselburgh (21.1 mi)
What Dunbar sites use cast iron bollards for
Typical reasons Dunbar sites choose cast iron bollards:
- Replacing lost or broken posts in an existing heritage line
- Period residential streets and mews
- Conservation areas and historic town centres
Dunbar: typical cast iron bollard prices
| Specification | Guide price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £445–£975 + VAT · £525–£1,145 inc VAT | Standard post, foundation, reinstatement |
| Upgraded | £825–£1,345 + VAT · £985–£1,595 inc VAT | Upgraded finish or fittings, reflective band, matched keys |
| Premium | £1,195–£1,695 + VAT · £1,445–£2,045 inc VAT | Heavy-duty or architectural spec, premium finish |
Per bollard, supplied and installed; no regional adjustment. Guide only — the fixed price follows a survey.
What we check first in Dunbar
In Scotland the council is the roads authority for local roads, which in Dunbar means East Lothian Council. Cast iron bollards on an adopted footway need its consent; trunk roads sit with Transport Scotland.
Many private-land installations in Dunbar need no planning application, but the rules don't clearly cover bollards, so listed buildings, conservation areas and prominent frontages are worth raising with the planning team at East Lothian Council before posts go in.
Historic streets were built in layers: modern services sit over older drains, coal holes and sometimes vaults, and the paving may be natural stone on a lime or sand bed rather than concrete. Original stone flags and setts are reused wherever possible, because new stone rarely matches weathered material.
- Ask the local planning authority whether consent is needed for new or replacement bollards in a conservation area or near a listed building.
- Check whether existing bollards are of historic interest or listed before removing them; repair and resetting may be expected.
How the job runs
Record what is there
The free site survey records existing bollards, their pattern, spacing, height and condition, and the paving they sit in. You receive a fixed written quote covering new castings, resets and reinstatement.
Set the post
Each bollard is set plumb in concrete with its root, flange or core, at a height that matches its neighbours. Original posts being reset are cleaned and checked for cracks first.
Relay and finish
Stone is relaid in its original pattern with suitable mortar, and the bollard is painted or touched up after fixing.
Options to consider
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Ductile iron | Same patterns with much greater toughness; bends before it breaks. The usual choice for new posts on trafficked streets. |
| Contrast details | Painted bands or contrasting caps agreed with the conservation officer so posts are visible to partially sighted people. |
| Paint finishes | Primed and painted, commonly black, with traditional highlights in gold or white on bands and crests where appropriate. |
Pricing cast iron bollards in Dunbar
Two Dunbar jobs with the same number of posts can price quite differently. The usual reasons:
- Pattern complexity and whether a special casting is needed
- Steel cores, concrete fill or tested cores beneath covers
- Resetting or repairing original bollards
After installation
Touch up damaged paint promptly and repaint fully when the finish has dulled or worn through. Grey iron that has been struck should be checked closely for hairline cracks, which can spread with frost.
If posts in Dunbar are later hit or damaged, we can repair or replace them — see bollard repairs.
Questions about cast iron bollards in Dunbar
Can you install cast iron bollards anywhere in Dunbar?
We cover all of Dunbar (EH42 and EH40) and the rest of East Lothian. We also work in Tranent and Musselburgh.
Who gives permission for bollards on the pavement in Dunbar?
In Scotland the council is the roads authority for local roads, which in Dunbar means East Lothian Council. Cast iron bollards on an adopted footway need its consent; trunk roads sit with Transport Scotland.
What's a typical price for cast iron bollards in Dunbar?
In Dunbar, typically £445–£1,695 per bollard, supplied and installed, plus VAT (£525–£2,045 including VAT for homeowners), with a minimum job of £745 plus VAT, using our Scotland guide prices. The fixed figure comes in writing after we've seen the site.
Can you match the old bollards on our street?
Often, yes. Many traditional patterns are still cast, and close equivalents exist for others. For rare patterns, a casting can sometimes be made from an existing post, though that takes longer.
Grey cast iron or ductile iron for new heritage bollards?
Ductile iron for any position that vehicles might strike, because it bends rather than shatters. Grey cast iron suits low-risk positions or matching existing grey iron posts exactly. Both take the same traditional patterns.