A bollard is a short, sturdy vertical post installed to control or direct vehicle and pedestrian traffic. In the UK, bollards are used for security (preventing vehicle access), wayfinding, car park management and street furniture. They are manufactured in steel, concrete, plastic and cast iron, ranging from £50 for basic plastic to £5,000+ for PAS 68 security-rated versions.
What is a Bollard? — The Complete UK Guide
Bollards are one of the most versatile pieces of street furniture and safety infrastructure in the UK. From the simple plastic parking post in a supermarket car park to the counter-terrorism rated steel bollards protecting London's Downing Street, the word "bollard" covers an enormous range of products with very different purposes and price points.
The History of Bollards
The word "bollard" originally referred to a thick post on a ship's deck or a quay, used to tie mooring ropes. The transition to street furniture came in the 19th century, when old cannon barrels were frequently embedded nose-down in the ground to protect building corners and property boundaries from carriage wheels — a practice particularly common in London and other major port cities. The cannon's circular profile and robustness made it an ideal improvised bollard, and the form persisted even when purpose-made cast iron bollards began to replace the repurposed cannons from the mid-1800s onwards.
Types of Bollard Available in the UK
1. Steel Bollards
Steel bollards are the most common type for permanent installation in commercial and industrial environments. Typically made from circular hollow section (CHS) steel tube — 76mm (3"), 102mm (4") and 114mm (4.5") diameter being the most common sizes — they are hot-dip galvanised and may be powder coated in yellow, black, or other colours. Standard steel bollards suitable for car park and industrial use range from £80–£250 per unit for supply only.
For higher security applications, steel bollards may be concrete-filled and designed to resist vehicle impact. Fully tested security bollards that achieve PAS 68 / IWA 14-1 ratings can cost £2,000–£10,000+ per unit depending on the performance rating required.
2. Concrete Bollards
Precast concrete bollards are extremely durable and resistant to vehicle impact, though heavy and more difficult to install than hollow steel alternatives. They are commonly specified for roadside applications where vandalism or vehicle impact is likely. Concrete bollards cannot be retracted or removed without significant effort, making them a fully permanent installation.
3. Cast Iron Bollards
Heritage cast iron bollards are commonly specified in historic city centres, conservation areas and high-quality public realm environments where aesthetics are important alongside function. The London-pattern bollard, the Sussex bollard and the ball-top heritage bollard are all traditional designs that remain in production for new installations. Cast iron bollards are substantially heavier than steel equivalents and are generally not suitable for security-rated applications without additional reinforcement.
4. Plastic and Rubber Bollards
Flexible plastic or rubber bollards — often in yellow with reflective banding — are widely used for temporary and semi-permanent installations in car parks, on cycle lanes, and for pedestrian routing. They flex on impact and return to their original position, making them more forgiving than rigid alternatives. Plastic bollards typically cost £30–£150 per unit. They provide no meaningful resistance to vehicle impact and should not be used where security against vehicle intrusion is the primary objective.
5. Removable and Retractable Bollards
Removable bollards use a core-and-socket system — the visible bollard body can be lifted out of a below-ground socket when access is required, and reinstalled with a lock. This allows the space to be used as an access route when needed (e.g., for emergency vehicles, deliveries or events) while being secured at other times. Retractable bollards lower into a below-ground housing to allow vehicle access, and rise to their full height when the access is closed. Motor-driven retractable bollards can be operated remotely and integrated with ANPR systems, access control and CCTV.
6. Security Bollards (PAS 68 / IWA 14-1)
Security-rated bollards are tested and certified to stop vehicles of a specified weight and speed, achieving a defined penetration distance. PAS 68 (now largely superseded by IWA 14-1) and the current IWA 14-1 international standard specify test conditions and performance classes. A commonly specified standard for UK crowded places protection is V/7500[N2]80/90:1.5 — meaning a 7,500kg vehicle at 80km/h (50mph), achieving a penetration of 1.5 metres in the test, in the N2 threat level. These are physically very substantial bollards with deep foundation requirements, and must be installed by specialist contractors.
Bollard Applications in the UK
Street Furniture and Pedestrian Protection
The most visible bollard use is as street furniture — lining pavements, protecting building corners, separating pedestrian areas from vehicle traffic, and defining parking bay limits. Local authorities, Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and property managers all use bollards extensively for these purposes.
Security and Anti-Ram Raid
Retail premises, ATMs, banks, petrol stations and other at-risk sites use bollards to prevent vehicle-borne crime. Anti-ram raid bollards do not need to achieve the full PAS 68 standard to be effective deterrents — a robust concrete-filled steel bollard installed in front of a shopfront significantly raises the difficulty of a ram raid attack.
Car Park Management
Bollards are used in car parks to mark access points, protect walls and structures from vehicle impact, define pedestrian pathways, and manage access for permit holders versus the general public.
Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM)
Counter-terrorism security applications use certified HVM bollards — PAS 68 or IWA 14-1 rated — to protect crowded places, government buildings, transport hubs and critical infrastructure from deliberate vehicle attacks.
UK Bollard Standards
- PAS 68 — UK vehicle security barrier standard (now largely superseded)
- IWA 14-1 — International vehicle security barrier standard
- BS 8626 — UK code of practice for the installation of hostile vehicle mitigation measures
- Secured by Design (SBD) — Metropolitan Police / NPCC design initiative, specifies minimum security standards for commercial premises including bollard requirements
How Much Do Bollards Cost in the UK?
| Bollard Type | Typical Cost (Supply Only) |
|---|---|
| Plastic/rubber flexible bollard | £30–£100 |
| Standard steel bollard (76mm–114mm) | £80–£250 |
| Cast iron heritage bollard | £150–£400 |
| Concrete-filled steel (anti-ram raid) | £200–£500 |
| Removable core bollard + socket | £300–£600 |
| Retractable bollard (manual) | £500–£1,500 |
| Retractable bollard (motorised) | £2,000–£8,000 |
| PAS 68 / IWA 14-1 security bollard | £3,000–£15,000+ |
Installation costs should be added to the above supply prices. Shallow-depth bollard installations in a car park or pavement may cost £200–£500 per bollard for installation. Deep-foundation security bollard installation can cost £1,000–£5,000+ per unit depending on ground conditions and location.
How Are Bollards Installed?
Installation method depends on the bollard type and site conditions. Surface-mounted bollards use a baseplate bolted to the existing surface — fast but providing lower impact resistance. In-ground bollards require a core drill or excavation, the bollard is set in concrete and allowed to cure before the site is reopened. Security bollards require deep, heavily reinforced foundations to prevent the bollard being ripped out of the ground by vehicle impact — foundation depths of 1000mm–1500mm+ are common for certified HVM installations.
Buy Bollards from Barriers Co
Barriers Co stocks the complete range of UK bollards — from standard steel and plastic bollards for car parks and industrial use, to heritage cast iron bollards for conservation areas, removable bollards for flexible access control, and PAS 68 / IWA 14-1 certified security bollards for hostile vehicle mitigation. UK-wide delivery. Free quotes from our specialist team.