Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Plymouth: the local picture
Across Plymouth, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
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 Plymouth?
Guide price in Plymouth: £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 you get with our dropped kerbs service
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
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
What we check on a Plymouth survey
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
Rules for front drives in Plymouth
Plymouth 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.
What happens next
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.
What you can expect from us
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Dropped kerbs in Plymouth: questions
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Plymouth?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Plymouth?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Do you work in Paignton, Newton Abbot and St Austell?
Yes. We cover Plymouth and the places around it, including Paignton, Newton Abbot and St Austell, and the rest of Devon.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Plymouth?
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.
Dropped kerbs near Plymouth
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Devon:
