Planning a dropped kerb in Bournemouth
Bournemouth 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.
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 Bournemouth?
In the South West, a dropped kerb usually costs £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. Your exact price depends on what the survey or your photos show, and is fixed in writing before anything is booked.
| 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?
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.
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
Before we price your dropped kerb
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Access and working space
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
Planning and kerb rules in Bournemouth
Bournemouth 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
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
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
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.
Dropped kerbs in Bournemouth: questions
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Bournemouth?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Bournemouth?
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.
Do you work in Christchurch, Poole and Ferndown?
Yes. We cover Bournemouth and the places around it, including Christchurch, Poole and Ferndown, and the rest of Dorset.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Bournemouth?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Dropped kerbs near Bournemouth
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Dorset:
- Dropped kerbs in Christchurch
- Dropped kerbs in Poole
- Dropped kerbs in Ferndown
- Dropped kerbs in Dorchester
