A dropped kerb, also called a vehicle crossover or vehicle crossing, lowers the kerb and strengthens the pavement so a car can drive from the road onto your property. Without one, driving across the pavement to reach a front driveway is not allowed, and it damages the pavement and any services underneath. The pavement belongs to the highway authority, so the council has to agree to the work before anything is done.
Because every dropped kerb depends on the council's decision and on what is under the pavement, we never give an instant price for one. Your enquiry goes to one local specialist, who arranges a free site visit and explains the process for your council.
What it costs
| Item | Indicative price |
|---|---|
| Contractor's work: lowering kerbs and reconstructing the footway | £1,200–£2,500 |
| Council application fee | Varies by council |
| Council inspection or other fees | Varies by council |
| Moving a lamp post, sign or utility cover | Quoted by the council or utility |
The contractor's figure covers breaking out the existing footway, setting new dropped kerbs, a thicker sub-base and a surface strong enough for vehicles. Wider crossings, longer runs of kerbs and verges add cost. The council's own fees are separate and are paid to the council.
The dropped kerb cost guide sets out the fees council by council.
How the process works
The exact steps vary by council, but the pattern is similar across the West Midlands.
- Check the basics. Most councils look for enough depth in your front garden to park a car without it overhanging the pavement, commonly around 4.8m or more from the house to the back of the pavement. Road type, visibility, nearby junctions, bus stops, street furniture and verges all count.
- Apply to the council. You apply to the council as highway authority, usually online, with a fee. On a classified road, or for a listed building or flat, you may also need planning permission first.
- Council assessment. The council checks the site and decides. It may set conditions, such as the width of the crossing or protecting a verge.
- Construction. The work on the public highway is carried out either by the council itself or by a contractor the council has accredited, with the right street works insurance and qualifications. Some councils give you a list; others do the work themselves.
- Inspection. The council inspects the finished crossing.
Your driveway itself, on your side of the boundary, can be built by any firm. The crossing on the pavement is the part the council controls.
Why it is always a survey
- What is under the pavement. Gas, water, electricity and telecoms may need protecting or lowering. Inspection covers may need replacing with heavy-duty ones.
- Street furniture. A lamp post, sign or road gully in the way means extra cost, or a refusal.
- Verges. Crossing a grass verge involves more excavation and sometimes planting considerations.
- Width and levels. The number of kerbs and how the drive meets the footway change the price.
- Council rules. Each council sets its own requirements.
Planning the driveway and kerb together
If you want a new driveway and a dropped kerb, apply for the kerb first or at the same time. There is little point building a front driveway you cannot use. The driveway itself needs to follow the front-garden drainage rule: more than 5m² of impermeable surface must drain to your own land, and water from your drive should not run onto the pavement. See our guide to the 5m² rule and the main driveways and patios page for surface options, from block paving to gravel.
Our guide on how to get a dropped kerb walks through the steps in more detail.
Local specialists cover Sutton Coldfield, North Birmingham, Solihull, South Birmingham, Edgbaston and Harborne, Lichfield and Tamworth, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Stourbridge and Coventry.
What to photograph for a quote
Good photos mean a closer price, and a shorter visit to measure up. How to measure.
- The whole fence line or area, end to end, standing back as far as you can
- From above if you can: an upstairs window shows the size and levels best
- The way in from the road: the drive, side gate, steps and where a lorry could park
Questions about dropped kerbs
Can I just drive over the kerb without a dropped kerb?
No. Driving across a pavement without a proper crossing can lead to enforcement action by the council, and you could be liable for damage to the footway or services underneath. Councils can also build a crossing and recover the cost, or put up barriers.
How long does a dropped kerb take?
The council stage usually takes the longest, often several weeks from application to approval. The construction itself is typically one to two days.
Can any builder do my dropped kerb?
Not usually. The work on the pavement must be done by the council or by a contractor the council has accredited for highway work. Your enquiry goes to one local specialist, who will tell you how it works with your council.
What if the council refuses?
Common reasons are too little space to park without overhanging the pavement, poor visibility, or being too close to a junction. You can ask the council for its reasons. A refusal cannot be overcome by a different contractor.
Do I need planning permission for a dropped kerb?
Sometimes. If the road is a classified road, or the property is a flat, listed or in some conservation areas, planning permission may be needed as well as highway consent. Check with your council; our planning permission guide explains the driveway side.