Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Cheltenham: the local picture
Cheltenham has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
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 Cheltenham?
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 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.
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
Before we price your dropped kerb
- Access and working space
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- How the new work ties into the paving
Do you need permission in Cheltenham?
Cheltenham 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
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
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 Cheltenham: questions
Who approves a dropped kerb in Cheltenham?
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 Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Stroud?
Yes. We cover Cheltenham and the places around it, including Tewkesbury, Gloucester and Stroud, and the rest of Gloucestershire.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Cheltenham?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Cheltenham?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Dropped kerbs near Cheltenham
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Gloucestershire:
- Dropped kerbs in Tewkesbury
- Dropped kerbs in Gloucester
- Dropped kerbs in Stroud
- Dropped kerbs in Cirencester

