Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Tonbridge: what to expect
Tonbridge 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 Tonbridge?
Most dropped kerb quotes in the South East fall within £1,100–£3,250 including VAT, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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.
- 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 Tonbridge survey
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
Do you need permission in Tonbridge?
Tonbridge 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
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
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.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
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.
Dropped kerbs in Tonbridge: questions
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Tonbridge?
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 Tonbridge?
Guide price: £1,100–£3,250 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Tonbridge?
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.
Do you work in Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Maidstone?
Yes. We cover Tonbridge and the places around it, including Tunbridge Wells, Sevenoaks and Maidstone, and the rest of Kent.
Dropped kerbs near Tonbridge
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Kent:
- Dropped kerbs in Tunbridge Wells
- Dropped kerbs in Sevenoaks
- Dropped kerbs in Maidstone
- Dropped kerbs in Swanley
- Dropped kerbs in Strood
- Dropped kerbs in Rochester
