Dropped kerbs with a new drive in St Albans: what to expect
Across St Albans, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
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 St Albans?
In the East of England, a dropped kerb usually costs £1,050–£3,150 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 | £1,050–£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 you get with our dropped kerbs service
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
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
Before we price your dropped kerb
- Access and working space
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Where water collects now and where it can go
Do you need permission in St Albans?
St Albans 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.
How we work
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Dropped kerbs in St Albans: questions
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in St Albans?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Who approves a dropped kerb in St Albans?
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.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in St Albans?
Guide price: £1,050–£3,150 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Do you work in Harpenden, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead?
Yes. We cover St Albans and the places around it, including Harpenden, Hatfield and Hemel Hempstead, and the rest of Hertfordshire.
Dropped kerbs near St Albans
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Hertfordshire:
- Dropped kerbs in Harpenden
- Dropped kerbs in Hatfield
- Dropped kerbs in Hemel Hempstead
- Dropped kerbs in North Watford
- Dropped kerbs in Welwyn Garden City
- Dropped kerbs in Borehamwood
