Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Bicester: what to expect
In Bicester, many front gardens have already been paved once, so new paving often starts with breaking out the old surface.
Planning-sensitive towns and conservation areas are common in the South East, so we check the front-garden rules before quoting.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Bicester?
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.
- 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
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
What we check on a Bicester survey
- How the new work ties into the paving
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
Planning and kerb rules in Bicester
Bicester 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
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.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Edges set in concrete
Every edge restraint is bedded and haunched, so the paving cannot creep.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Dropped kerbs in Bicester: questions
Do you work in Oxford, Banbury and Witney?
Yes. We cover Bicester and the places around it, including Oxford, Banbury and Witney, and the rest of Oxfordshire.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Bicester?
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 Bicester?
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 Bicester?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Dropped kerbs near Bicester
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Oxfordshire:
- Dropped kerbs in Oxford
- Dropped kerbs in Banbury
- Dropped kerbs in Witney
- Dropped kerbs in Abingdon
- Dropped kerbs in Didcot
