Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Exeter: what to expect
Exeter has a big mix of housing, from older terraces near the centre to newer estates further out, so no two drives here start from the same ground.
Sloping plots are common in the South West, which affects edging, steps and where the water runs.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Exeter?
Guide price in Exeter: £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. 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
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
What we check on an Exeter survey
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Access and working space
Rules for front drives in Exeter
Exeter 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.
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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
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.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Dropped kerbs in Exeter: questions
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Exeter?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Do you work in Exmouth, Tiverton and Newton Abbot?
Yes. We cover Exeter and the places around it, including Exmouth, Tiverton and Newton Abbot, and the rest of Devon.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Exeter?
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 Exeter?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Dropped kerbs near Exeter
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Devon:
- Dropped kerbs in Exmouth
- Dropped kerbs in Tiverton
- Dropped kerbs in Newton Abbot
- Dropped kerbs in Torquay
- Dropped kerbs in Paignton
