Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Falmouth: the local picture
In Falmouth, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
The South West is wetter than the east of England, so falls and drainage are planned before the pattern is chosen.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Falmouth?
Most dropped kerb quotes in the South West fall within £1,000–£3,000 including VAT, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
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.
- 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
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
What the survey covers
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Access and working space
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
Do you need permission in Falmouth?
Falmouth is in England, so these rules apply:
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.
From enquiry to finished paving
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.
How we work
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Dropped kerbs in Falmouth: questions
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Falmouth?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Do you work in Truro, Redruth and Camborne?
Yes. We cover Falmouth and the places around it, including Truro, Redruth and Camborne, and the rest of Cornwall.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Falmouth?
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.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Falmouth?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Dropped kerbs near Falmouth
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Cornwall:
- Dropped kerbs in Truro
- Dropped kerbs in Redruth
- Dropped kerbs in Camborne
- Dropped kerbs in Newquay
- Dropped kerbs in St Austell
