City of Edinburgh · Scotland
Removable bollard installation in Edinburgh
Removable bollards for sites across Edinburgh and the rest of City of Edinburgh, from the first measurement to the last relaid paving block.
Computer-generated imageRemovable bollards in Edinburgh
Removable bollards suit plenty of Edinburgh sites, university campuses, office forecourts and city-centre plazas among them. Removable bollards are used where vehicles need occasional rather than daily access.
Coverage in Edinburgh takes in the EH1, EH2, EH3, EH8, EH7 and EH9 postcode districts. We also cover neighbouring Musselburgh (5.7 miles), Dalkeith (6.4 miles), Bonnyrigg (6.5 miles) and South Queensferry (8.3 miles) — distances are straight-line.
Key facts for this area
- Area
- City of Edinburgh, Scotland
- Roads authority
- City of Edinburgh Council (local roads)
- Planning authority
- City of Edinburgh Council
- Postcodes
- EH1, EH2, EH3, EH8, EH7, EH9, EH6 and EH5
- Guide price
- Typically £245–£845 per bollard + VAT (£285–£995 inc VAT for homes); minimum job £595
- Survey
- Free, with a fixed written quote
- Nearby
- Musselburgh (5.7 mi), Dalkeith (6.4 mi), Bonnyrigg (6.5 mi), South Queensferry (8.3 mi)
Guide prices for Edinburgh
| Specification | Guide price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £245–£495 + VAT · £285–£585 inc VAT | Standard post, foundation, reinstatement |
| Upgraded | £425–£675 + VAT · £505–£805 inc VAT | Upgraded finish or fittings, reflective band, matched keys |
| Premium | £605–£845 + VAT · £725–£995 inc VAT | Heavy-duty or architectural spec, premium finish |
Per bollard with ground socket, supplied and installed; no regional adjustment. Guide only — the fixed price follows a survey.
Typical removable bollards jobs in Edinburgh
Typical reasons Edinburgh sites choose removable bollards:
- Temporary event closures and market streets
- Maintenance tracks through parks and open spaces
- School gates closed during drop-off and pick-up
Permissions and groundwork in Edinburgh
In Scotland the council is the roads authority for local roads, which in Edinburgh means City of Edinburgh Council. Removable bollards on an adopted footway need its consent; trunk roads sit with Transport Scotland.
If your site in Edinburgh is listed or inside a conservation area, check with the local planning authority (City of Edinburgh Council) before choosing a finish — heritage settings often favour cast iron or painted steel over stainless.
The base sits on free-draining stone or connects to a drainage route, so rainwater does not stand in the socket and freeze around the post in winter. On thin tarmac drives, the surround is sized so the socket does not loosen over time.
- On emergency access routes, agree with the fire service how they will remove the posts, such as standard keys or bolt croppers on padlocks.
- Fit reflective or contrasting bands near the top so posts are visible when in place.
Installation, step by step
Agree who will lift the post
At the free site survey we talk through who will remove the post, how often and where it will be stored. That decides material, diameter and lock, and goes into a fixed written quote.
Cut and excavate
A small square of surface is cut out and excavated to socket depth, with a bed of free-draining stone at the bottom so water can leave the socket.
Set the socket flush
The socket is set in concrete with its rim exactly at finished surface level and to the fall of the ground, so the lid sits flat and nothing catches on it.
Options to consider
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rated removable posts | Crash-tested removable models exist for security lines; they use heavier sockets and tested foundations. |
| Diameter and height | Commonly 76–140 mm diameter and around 900–1,000 mm high, chosen to suit visibility and handling. |
| Heads and handles | Dome, flat or ball heads, with lifting handles or eyes so posts can be pulled out without strain. |
Pricing removable bollards in Edinburgh
Two Edinburgh jobs with the same number of posts can price quite differently. The usual reasons:
- Post material: steel, stainless or aluminium
- Rated removable posts where security is required
- Surface type and reinstatement
Looking after them
Removable bollards fail in predictable ways: seized locks, sockets full of grit and lids that no longer close. Keep spare keys somewhere sensible, because lost keys are a common reason for a post being cut out.
If posts in Edinburgh are later hit or damaged, we can repair or replace them — see bollard repairs.
Questions about removable bollards in Edinburgh
Can you install removable bollards anywhere in Edinburgh?
We cover all of Edinburgh (EH1, EH2, EH3, EH8, EH7 and EH9) and the rest of City of Edinburgh. We also work in Musselburgh, Dalkeith and Bonnyrigg.
Do I need consent for removable bollards on a public footway in Edinburgh?
For anything on the public footway in Edinburgh we check with the roads authority first — City of Edinburgh Council for local roads, Transport Scotland on trunk routes. Private ground such as a car park or forecourt only needs the owner's go-ahead.
How much do removable bollards cost in Edinburgh?
In Edinburgh, typically £245–£845 per bollard with ground socket, supplied and installed, plus VAT (£285–£995 including VAT for homeowners), with a minimum job of £595 plus VAT, using our Scotland guide prices. The fixed figure comes in writing after we've seen the site.
Will a removable bollard freeze in place?
It can if water sits in the socket and freezes around the post. Good drainage at the socket base is the main defence. A little lubricant on the post and lifting it out occasionally in winter also helps.
Can removable bollards be installed on block paving?
Yes. The socket is set in concrete beneath the blocks and the blocks are cut tight around the collar. It finishes neatly if the socket is set to the exact paving level.
Removable bollards near Edinburgh
- Musselburgh (5.7 mi)
- Dalkeith (6.4 mi)
- Bonnyrigg (6.5 mi)
- South Queensferry (8.3 mi)
- Penicuik (8.4 mi)
- Tranent (9.4 mi)