Planning a dropped kerb in Brent
Brent 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.
Many London streets have controlled parking and narrow frontages, so we measure the car space and the crossover before anything else.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Brent?
In London, a dropped kerb usually costs £1,200–£3,600 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 | £1,200–£3,600 |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £25–£60 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £420–£1,200 |
| Soakaway | £1,100–£2,400 |
| Highway authority dropped kerb application fee | £65–£600 |
Guide figures for London, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a dropped kerb involve?
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.
- 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
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
Before we price your dropped kerb
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
Rules for front drives in Brent
Brent 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
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.
How we work
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
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.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Dropped kerbs in Brent: questions
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Brent?
Guide price: £1,200–£3,600 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Brent?
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 Brent?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Do you work in Harrow, Greenford and Acton?
Yes. We cover Brent and the places around it, including Harrow, Greenford and Acton, and the rest of Greater London.
Dropped kerbs near Brent
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Greater London:
- Dropped kerbs in Harrow
- Dropped kerbs in Greenford
- Dropped kerbs in Acton
- Dropped kerbs in Willesden
- Dropped kerbs in Cricklewood
- Dropped kerbs in Southall
