Dropped kerbs with a new drive in Shirley: the local picture
Shirley is a sizeable town with a mix of semis, terraces and newer estates, and many drives here were first laid decades ago.
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 Shirley?
Most dropped kerb quotes in the West Midlands 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 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.
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
Before we price your dropped kerb
- Buried services near the crossing or channel
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Access and working space
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- How the new work ties into the paving
Planning and kerb rules in Shirley
Shirley 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.
The dig and sub-base in writing
Your quote states the depth of dig, the sub-base thickness and how it is compacted.
Itemised quotes
Break-out, waste, edging, drainage and covers are separate lines you can see.
Honest timescales
We tell you how long the job takes and what can delay it, such as approvals and weather.
Dropped kerbs in Shirley: questions
Do you work in Solihull, Acocks Green and Birmingham?
Yes. We cover Shirley and the places around it, including Solihull, Acocks Green and Birmingham, and the rest of the West Midlands.
Who approves a dropped kerb in Shirley?
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 Shirley?
Guide price: £1,000–£3,000 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in Shirley?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Dropped kerbs near Shirley
Nearby towns we cover for dropped kerbs, and dropped kerbs across West Midlands:
- Dropped kerbs in Solihull
- Dropped kerbs in Acocks Green
- Dropped kerbs in Birmingham
- Dropped kerbs in Washwood Heath
- Dropped kerbs in Aston
- Dropped kerbs in Bartley Green
