Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Finchley: what to expect
Finchley 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.
Front gardens in much of London are short, so parking depth and the dropped kerb usually decide whether a drive is possible.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Finchley?
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.
- 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
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
What the survey covers
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Access and working space
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
Planning and kerb rules in Finchley
Finchley 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
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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
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.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Dropped kerbs in Finchley: questions
Who approves a dropped kerb in Finchley?
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 Finchley?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Do you work in Cricklewood, Barnet and Holloway?
Yes. We cover Finchley and the places around it, including Cricklewood, Barnet and Holloway, and the rest of Greater London.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Finchley?
Guide price: £1,200–£3,600 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Dropped kerbs near Finchley
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Greater London:
- Dropped kerbs in Cricklewood
- Dropped kerbs in Barnet
- Dropped kerbs in Holloway
- Dropped kerbs in Willesden
- Dropped kerbs in Tottenham
- Dropped kerbs in Brent
