Dropped Kerbs for Block Paved Drives | Block Paving Contractors

What does a dropped kerb involve?

A dropped kerb, also called a vehicle crossover, is a section of lowered kerb with a strengthened footway behind it so a car can cross the pavement to reach a drive. It is part of the public highway, so it needs the highway authority's permission and has to be built to their specification, usually by a contractor they approve.

We do not take money for kerb work we cannot legally do. What we do is check whether your property is likely to qualify, help you with the application, coordinate the timing with your new drive, and either price the crossover where the authority allows private contractors or work alongside the authority's own contractor where it does not.

What is included?

Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
Help with the highway authority application and drawings
Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line

Which options are there?

Authority-built

The highway authority or its contractor builds the crossover; we build the drive to meet it.

Approved contractor

Where private contractors are permitted, the crossover is built by an approved team to the authority's specification.

Widening

Extending an existing dropped kerb to suit a wider drive, subject to approval.

How much does a dropped kerb cost?

UK guide price£1,000–£3,000 inc VATIncluding VAT at 20%

The price depends on the size, the access and what is needed underneath, so it is confirmed after the survey. Extras are listed separately on your quote.

Region	Guide price inc VAT
London	£1,200–£3,600
South East	£1,100–£3,250
East of England	£1,050–£3,150
South West	£1,000–£3,000
West Midlands	£1,000–£3,000
East Midlands	£1,000–£3,000
North West	£1,000–£3,000
Yorkshire and the Humber	£900–£2,700
North East	£900–£2,700
Wales	£930–£2,800
Scotland	£1,000–£3,000
Northern Ireland	£950–£2,850

Guide figures checked 9 November 2026. Your written quote after the survey is the price you pay. See the full price list or try the guide price tool.

Is a dropped kerb right for you?

Good for

New front garden drives
Widened drives that need a wider crossing

Think twice if

Properties too shallow for a car to park without overhanging the pavement

How does it work?

Send the basics
Postcode, what you need and a rough size. Photos help.
Survey
We measure, check levels, ground and drainage, and talk through blocks and patterns.
Written quote
An itemised quote with the specification, the price and the start date.
The work
Our paving team builds it to the agreed specification and leaves the site swept.

Do you need permission?

Front-garden paving and dropped kerbs follow different rules in each part of the UK:

Front drive rules in England

In England, paving in front of the house that covers more than 5 m² needs planning permission unless it is permeable or drains to a lawn, border or soakaway inside your boundary. Permeable block paving, or standard blocks laid to fall onto a planted strip, avoid the need for permission in most cases.

Flats and maisonettes, listed buildings, and homes covered by an Article 4 direction can have tighter rules, and conservation areas, National Parks and National Landscapes restrict some permitted development.

A dropped kerb needs your local highway authority's approval (usually the county, unitary, metropolitan or London borough council), and a new access onto an A, B or C classified road also needs planning permission.

Front drive rules in Wales

In Wales, any new or replacement hard surface at the front of a house should be permeable or drain to a permeable area within the property to avoid needing planning permission. Unlike England, there is no 5 m² allowance for new paving; only repairs of up to 5 m² of existing surface are exempt.

Since January 2019, construction work covering 100 m² or more with drainage implications, including drives and patios, needs approval from the local SuDS Approving Body (SAB) before work starts, even where planning permission is not needed.

A dropped kerb needs your council's approval as highway authority, and a new access onto a classified road needs planning permission.

Front drive rules in Scotland

In Scotland, a hard surface between the house and the road is permitted development only if it is porous or drains to a permeable area within the property. There is no 5 m² threshold: the rule applies whatever the size.

Hard surfaces are not permitted development in a conservation area or within the grounds of a listed building, so planning permission is needed there.

A dropped kerb needs consent from your council as roads authority under section 56 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, and planning permission may also be needed depending on the road.

Front drive rules in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, a hard surface between the front of the house and the road that covers or replaces more than 5 m² must be porous or permeable, or drain to a permeable area within the property, to be permitted development.

Hard surfaces within the grounds of a listed building need listed building consent. Planning is handled by your district council, so check with its planning office if you are unsure.

Dropped kerbs in Northern Ireland are approved by DfI Roads (the Department for Infrastructure), not the council; check planning separately with the council.

Questions about dropped kerbs

Do I need permission for a dropped kerb?

Yes. The kerb and footway are public highway, so you need the highway authority's consent: your council in England, Scotland and Wales, and DfI Roads in Northern Ireland. Planning permission is also needed for a crossover onto a classified road.

How much does a dropped kerb cost?

Costs vary a lot by authority. Expect an application fee plus the construction cost, which depends on the width, the footway build-up and any utilities that need lowering.

Can I drive over the kerb until it is dropped?

No. Your highway authority has to approve the crossing first, and councils can take action over unauthorised crossings. Driving over a full-height kerb also damages the footway and can crack pipes and cables underneath.

How long does a dropped kerb application take?

Several weeks is common, sometimes longer. That is why we suggest applying before the drive is booked.

Where do you offer dropped kerbs?

We quote dropped kerbs across the UK. Choose your area for local prices and towns.

Dropped kerbs with a new drive

What does a dropped kerb involve?

What is included?