East Lothian · Scotland
Timber bollard installation in Dunbar
Planning timber bollards in Dunbar? We check ownership, consents and buried services first, then quote a fixed price.
Computer-generated imageTimber bollards in Dunbar
Timber bollards deter and guide vehicles; they are not tested barriers. In Dunbar, that tends to mean sites such as local parades, small industrial units and high street shopfronts.
Coverage in Dunbar takes in the EH42 and EH40 postcode districts and nearby places like 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. It sits roughly 27 miles from Edinburgh as the crow flies.
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 £95–£345 per post + VAT (£105–£405 inc VAT for homes); minimum job £445
- Survey
- Free, with a fixed written quote
- Nearby
- Tranent (17.4 mi), Musselburgh (21.1 mi)
What Dunbar sites use timber bollards for
Common uses in a place like Dunbar:
- School frontages and nursery entrances
- Holiday parks, campsites and farm shops
- Village greens and recreation grounds
Guide prices for Dunbar
| Specification | Guide price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | £95–£205 + VAT · £105–£245 inc VAT | Standard post, foundation, reinstatement |
| Upgraded | £175–£275 + VAT · £205–£325 inc VAT | Upgraded finish or fittings, reflective band, matched keys |
| Premium | £245–£345 + VAT · £285–£405 inc VAT | Heavy-duty or architectural spec, premium finish |
Per post, supplied and installed; no regional adjustment. Guide only — the fixed price follows a survey.
Permissions and groundwork in Dunbar
For anything on the public footway in Dunbar we check with the roads authority first — East Lothian 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.
Bollards on private land often need no planning application, but listed buildings and conservation areas are different; the planning service at East Lothian Council can confirm before anything is ordered.
Timber bollards usually go into soft landscape, so the ground varies more than with paved sites. Verges on rural lanes and estates often carry water mains, telecoms cables and drainage, so services are checked before augering.
- Leave pedestrian gaps of typically at least 1,000–1,200 mm, and wider at path entrances used by cycles, buggies and mobility scooters, referring to Inclusive Mobility guidance.
- Fit reflective bands or white tops where posts stand beside roads or in unlit car parks.
How the job runs
Dig the holes
Holes are dug by hand or auger to the required depth, avoiding roots and checking for services along verges and footpaths.
Set the posts
Posts are set plumb and to a consistent height, backfilled with compacted stone or concreted with a shaped top. Cut softwood ends are re-treated.
Finish and tidy
Reflective bands are fitted, turf is reinstated around the posts and spoil is removed or spread as agreed.
Choosing the right spec
| Option | Detail |
|---|---|
| Oak | Naturally durable heartwood that weathers to silver-grey. Suits parks, heritage settings and visible frontages. |
| Tropical hardwood | Very dense and long-lasting in ground contact. Specify certified sustainable sources. |
| Removable and lockable posts | Timber posts in steel sockets, or hinged timber posts, for maintenance and emergency access. |
Pricing timber bollards in Dunbar
Our Scotland guide prices are a starting point; the survey in Dunbar firms them up. What tends to move them:
- Number of posts and length of the line
- Fixing method: stone, concrete or steel shoe
- Post size and length
Looking after them
Inspect posts at ground level, where rot starts, by probing for soft wood. Replacing individual damaged posts is straightforward if the original size and species are recorded.
We can also service, repair or replace existing posts anywhere in Dunbar.
Questions about timber bollards in Dunbar
Can you install timber 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?
Dunbar falls under East Lothian Council as roads authority. If the line of posts crosses onto adopted road or pavement, permission comes before excavation; on private land it does not.
How much do timber bollards cost in Dunbar?
In Dunbar, typically £95–£345 per post, supplied and installed, plus VAT (£105–£405 including VAT for homeowners), with a minimum job of £445 plus VAT, using our Scotland guide prices. The fixed figure comes in writing after we've seen the site.
How long will a timber bollard last in the ground?
It depends on species, treatment and how the post is set. Dense hardwoods and oak heartwood last much longer than softwood, and posts that are kept out of standing water last longer than those sitting in wet concrete. A steel shoe that keeps timber off the ground extends life considerably.
Is tropical hardwood a sustainable choice?
It can be, if it comes from certified sustainable sources. Ask for certification with the order. Oak and treated softwood from managed forests are alternatives.