Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Preston: what to expect
Preston has everything from short terrace frontages to wide drives on newer estates, so the survey sets the layout and the dig.
Terraced streets across the North West often have very short frontages, so we check parking depth before quoting a conversion.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Preston?
Most dropped kerb quotes in the North West fall within £1,000–£3,000 including VAT, with any extras listed separately on your quote.
| 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 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.
- 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
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
Before we price your dropped kerb
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
- Access and working space
Rules for front drives in Preston
Preston 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.
What happens next
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.
How we work
Repair before replace
If your drive can be fixed or re-laid, we will say so.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Dropped kerbs in Preston: questions
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Preston?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Do you work in Leyland, Chorley and Blackburn?
Yes. We cover Preston and the places around it, including Leyland, Chorley and Blackburn, and the rest of Lancashire.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Preston?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Preston?
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 Preston
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Lancashire:
- Dropped kerbs in Leyland
- Dropped kerbs in Chorley
- Dropped kerbs in Blackburn
- Dropped kerbs in Darwen
- Dropped kerbs in Lytham St Annes
- Dropped kerbs in Accrington
