Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Tamworth: the local picture
Across Tamworth, front gardens range from narrow terrace plots to broad modern drives, and the best block, pattern and drainage choice changes with them.
Inter-war semis with narrow front gardens are common in the West Midlands, so front garden conversions and drive widenings are often the practical choice.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Tamworth?
In the West Midlands, a dropped kerb usually costs £1,000–£3,000 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 | £1,000–£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 West Midlands, checked 9 November 2026. See all prices or use the guide price tool.
What does a dropped kerb involve?
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
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
What we check on a Tamworth survey
- Access and working space
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Who must approve the work and how long that takes
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
Planning and kerb rules in Tamworth
Tamworth 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
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
Clean finish
The site is swept, the joints are filled and you are shown how to look after the paving.
Water planned first
Falls, channels and soakaways are designed before the pattern is chosen.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Dropped kerbs in Tamworth: questions
Who approves a dropped kerb in Tamworth?
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 Lichfield, Burntwood and Burton upon Trent?
Yes. We cover Tamworth and the places around it, including Lichfield, Burntwood and Burton upon Trent, and the rest of Staffordshire.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Tamworth?
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 Tamworth?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Dropped kerbs near Tamworth
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across Staffordshire:
- Dropped kerbs in Lichfield
- Dropped kerbs in Burntwood
- Dropped kerbs in Burton upon Trent
- Dropped kerbs in Rugeley
- Dropped kerbs in Cannock
- Dropped kerbs in Stafford
