How much does a dropped kerb cost in Bristol?
Guide price in Bristol: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. These are South West guide figures; the survey or your photos confirm the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,000–£3,000 |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £350–£1,000 |
| Soakaway | £900–£2,000 |
| Highway authority dropped kerb application fee | £55–£500 |
Guide figures for the South West, checked 9 November 2026.
Dropped kerbs in Bristol and nearby
We cover the whole of Bristol (BS1, BS2, BS3, BS4, BS5, BS6 and the rest of the BS postcodes), plus nearby towns:
What is included?
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.
Sloping plots are common in the South West, which affects edging, steps and where the water runs.
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
What the survey covers
- Access and working space
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
Rules for front drives in Bristol
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.
General guidance, not legal advice. Your survey confirms what applies to your home. See the planning guide.
How it works
Tell us about the job
Use the form, the quote tool, WhatsApp or a call.
We take a look
A survey visit, or photos for smaller repair and cleaning jobs.
Price in writing
Every line itemised, including the dig, edging and drainage.
Booked and built
Agreed start date, then the work, the final clean-down and the joint top-up.
Dropped kerbs in Bristol: questions
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Bristol?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Do you work in Kingswood, Mangotsfield and Nailsea?
Yes. We cover all of Bristol, including Kingswood, Mangotsfield and Nailsea.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Bristol?
For a dropped kerb, your local highway authority (usually your council). For drainage and covers on private land, no approval is usually needed, but connections to public sewers need the water company's consent.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Bristol?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
