Planning a dropped kerb in Londonderry
Across Londonderry, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
Wet winters in Northern Ireland make falls, edge restraints and full joints especially important.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Londonderry?
Most dropped kerb quotes in Northern Ireland fall within £950–£2,850 including VAT, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £950–£2,850 |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £19–£50 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £330–£950 |
| Soakaway | £860–£1,900 |
| Highway authority dropped kerb application fee | £50–£480 |
Guide figures for Northern Ireland, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What is included?
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.
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
What we check on a Londonderry survey
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
Rules for front drives in Londonderry
Londonderry is in Northern Ireland, so these rules apply:
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.
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.
What you can expect from us
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
One point of contact
You deal with one team from survey to sign-off, with work carried out by paving teams working under S&K.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Dropped kerbs in Londonderry: questions
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Londonderry?
Guide price: £950–£2,850 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Londonderry?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Do you work in Limavady, Strabane and Portstewart?
Yes. We cover Londonderry and the places around it, including Limavady, Strabane and Portstewart, and the rest of County Londonderry.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Londonderry?
For a dropped kerb, DfI Roads. For drainage and covers on private land, no approval is usually needed, but connections to public sewers need the water company's consent.
Dropped kerbs near Londonderry
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across County Londonderry:
