Planning a dropped kerb in Hitchin
Hitchin is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Clay soils are common in parts of the East of England, so drainage and sub-base depth get extra attention.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Hitchin?
Guide price in Hitchin: £1,050–£3,150 including VAT. These are East of England guide figures; the survey or your photos confirm the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,050–£3,150 |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £370–£1,050 |
| Soakaway | £950–£2,100 |
| Highway authority dropped kerb application fee | £60–£530 |
Guide figures for the East of England, 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.
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
What the survey covers
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Access and working space
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
Rules for front drives in Hitchin
Hitchin 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
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.
Why choose Block Paving Contractors
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.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Dropped kerbs in Hitchin: questions
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Hitchin?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Do you work in Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Harpenden?
Yes. We cover Hitchin and the places around it, including Letchworth Garden City, Stevenage and Harpenden, and the rest of Hertfordshire.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Hitchin?
Guide price: £1,050–£3,150 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Hitchin?
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 Hitchin
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Hertfordshire:
- Dropped kerbs in Letchworth Garden City
- Dropped kerbs in Stevenage
- Dropped kerbs in Harpenden
- Dropped kerbs in Welwyn Garden City
- Dropped kerbs in Hatfield
- Dropped kerbs in Hertford
