Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Romford: what to expect
Romford has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
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 Romford?
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.
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
What we check on a Romford survey
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Access and working space
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
Do you need permission in Romford?
Romford 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
Quick details
Your postcode and the job. It takes a minute.
On-site check
Measurements, levels against the damp-proof course, ground and drainage.
Itemised quote
Fixed once the specification is agreed, with no vague extras.
Laid and finished
Compacted, jointed and handed back clean.
What you can expect from us
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
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.
Dropped kerbs in Romford: questions
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Romford?
Guide price: £1,200–£3,600 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Romford?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Do you work in Dagenham, Becontree and Ilford?
Yes. We cover Romford and the places around it, including Dagenham, Becontree and Ilford, and the rest of Greater London.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Romford?
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 Romford
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Greater London:
- Dropped kerbs in Dagenham
- Dropped kerbs in Becontree
- Dropped kerbs in Ilford
- Dropped kerbs in Barking
- Dropped kerbs in Thamesmead
- Dropped kerbs in Leytonstone
