Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Prestwich: the local picture
Prestwich is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
The North West is one of the wetter parts of England, so falls, channel drains and permeable options matter more than usual.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Prestwich?
In the North 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 North 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.
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
What the survey covers
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
Rules for front drives in Prestwich
Prestwich 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.
How we work
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Dropped kerbs in Prestwich: questions
Do you work in Whitefield, Radcliffe and Salford?
Yes. We cover Prestwich and the places around it, including Whitefield, Radcliffe and Salford, and the rest of Greater Manchester.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Prestwich?
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 Prestwich?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Prestwich?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Dropped kerbs near Prestwich
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Greater Manchester:
- Dropped kerbs in Whitefield
- Dropped kerbs in Radcliffe
- Dropped kerbs in Salford
- Dropped kerbs in Swinton
- Dropped kerbs in Middleton
- Dropped kerbs in Eccles
