Planning a dropped kerb in Dover
Dover is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
Chalk, clay and sandy ground all occur across the South East, so the dig and sub-base depth are set on the survey rather than assumed.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Dover?
Guide price in Dover: £1,100–£3,250 including VAT. These are South East guide figures; the survey or your photos confirm the real price before you commit.
| Item | Guide price inc VAT |
|---|---|
| Dropped kerb (vehicle crossover) construction | £1,100–£3,250 |
| Edging or kerb, bedded and haunched | £20–£55 per metre |
| Typical channel drain run | £380–£1,100 |
| Soakaway | £970–£2,150 |
| Highway authority dropped kerb application fee | £60–£540 |
Guide figures for the South East, 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.
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
What we check on a Dover survey
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Access and working space
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
- Where water collects now and where it can go
Do you need permission in Dover?
Dover 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
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
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
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.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Dropped kerbs in Dover: questions
Who approves a dropped kerb in Dover?
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 Dover?
Guide price: £1,100–£3,250 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Dover?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Do you work in Folkestone, Deal and Canterbury?
Yes. We cover Dover and the places around it, including Folkestone, Deal and Canterbury, and the rest of Kent.
Dropped kerbs near Dover
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Kent:
- Dropped kerbs in Folkestone
- Dropped kerbs in Deal
- Dropped kerbs in Canterbury
- Dropped kerbs in Ramsgate
- Dropped kerbs in Broadstairs
- Dropped kerbs in Margate
