How much does a dropped kerb cost in West Sussex?
Guide price in West Sussex: £1,100–£3,250 including VAT. These are South East guide figures; the survey or your photos confirm the real price before you commit.
| 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.
Towns we cover in West Sussex
Choose a town for local prices and details for dropped kerbs:
What is included?
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.
Planning-sensitive towns and conservation areas are common in the South East, so we check the front-garden rules before quoting.
- Crossover construction where the authority permits our contractor
- Coordination so the drive and crossover are finished together
- Eligibility check: visibility, trees, street furniture, frontage depth
- Help with the highway authority application and drawings
- Drive levels set to meet the new kerb line
What the survey covers
- Where water collects now and where it can go
- Access and working space
- Levels of the pavement, kerb and drive
- Load ratings needed for covers and gratings
- Ground conditions for any soakaway
Rules for front drives in West Sussex
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.
Dropped kerbs in West Sussex: questions
Who approves a dropped kerb in West Sussex?
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.
Can this be done at the same time as a new drive in West Sussex?
Yes, and it usually should be, so the levels match and the paving is only disturbed once.
Do you work in Crawley, Worthing and Bognor Regis?
Yes. We cover all of West Sussex, including Crawley, Worthing and Bognor Regis.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in West Sussex?
Guide price: £1,100–£3,250 including VAT. The survey confirms the work needed.

