Dropped kerb cost guide

The average cost of a dropped kerb will be around £1,500 to create a new vehicle access point or £850 to widen an existing access point. These prices are inclusive of everything you should need to complete the project. However, there will be a number of other factors for you to consider that will ultimately affect the final dropped kerb cost. Below, we have different pricing and considerations for you to factor in ahead of sourcing a quote.

How much does a dropped kerb cost?

There are two types of kerb-drop projects, with differing costs for each. The first is dropping a kerb for a new vehicle crossing point. The second is dropping a kerb to widen an access point.

Dropped kerb costs for new vehicle access crossing

The average dropped kerb cost for a new vehicle access point is £1,500. This price covers the costs of materials needed and the tradesperson’s time but does not cover the additional cost of planning permission, which varies in price depending on your location and local authority.

Dropped kerb costs for widening an access point

The average dropped kerb cost for widening an access point is £850. Again, this price covers materials and labour but does not cover planning permission.

Factors affecting the cost of dropping a kerb

A dropped kerb is the first step to a smooth, safe and stylish driveway – but it’s not as simple as just removing a piece of concrete. Since the pavement is owned by the council, there will be a number of factors that affect the total cost of dropping the kerb, including:

Location

Each local council will have their unique pricing structure and, in most cases, their preferred list of specialist contractors to use. The average cost for planning permission for a dropped kerb will range between £50 - £400 depending on where you are in the UK. There may also be a street work license to pay to the council, with the typical fee for this around £430.

Other services or utilities

If your dropped kerb requires other services or utilities (e.g. phone box providers) to move or alter their connections they may be extra charges due. Often other service and utility providers will require their own workforce or agencies to make required alterations and you have to cover their costs. Explore this topic early on in your planning if you anticipate that you may need to request movement of service, utility or 3rd party in the vicinity of your dropped kerb.

Number of kerbs

Naturally, the number of kerbs that you need to drop to form a driveway will affect the total cost. For example, the average drop kerb prices for two kerbs will typically start at £700 for labour and materials, while the price you can expect for three kerbs is £800 and £1,000 for four.

Size of job

It goes without saying that the scale of the project will have an impact on the kerb drop cost. A standard kerb drop might only take an hour or two to complete and therefore be priced at the cheaper end of the spectrum.

However, if the project involves a large-scale driveway conversion, your budget should account for the extra work. Similarly, when dropping the kerb is part of a larger project such as installing a cobblestone or brick driveway, you may find higher planning application fees when applying for permission.

Tradespeople often charge a day rate for their time at around £200 per day. As timescales increase to reflect the scope of the work involved and the materials needed, so too will the drop kerb cost quoted by a professional.

Always check with your local council to get an accurate quote for planning fees so you can put aside the right budget for the work.

What to do before getting drop kerb prices

Before you can move ahead with the job, there are a few steps you need to take. Since the pavement belongs to the local council, you will need to:

• Check whether you need to apply for planning permission.
• Apply for planning permission if required.
• Pay a non-refundable application fee.
• Use an approved contractor to carry out the work.

Councils may have a list of pre-approved contractors that they require you to work with. However, depending on their individual policies, they may allow you to choose your own contractor once planning permission has been granted.

If you have the option to choose a contractor, use our search to find tradespeople that your neighbours recommend.

Benefits of a drop kerb

If you’re living in a city that’s short of parking spots, it makes sense to take advantage of your outdoor space for parking your car.

On the other hand, you may be eager to enhance the kerb appeal of your property… without the kerb. You may also want to smooth out the area to make your property more accessible to wheelchair users.

But, with a driveway comes the need for a dropped kerb – in other words, lowering the pavement to allow cars to drive safely on and off your property.

Additional costs for a dropped kerb

When budgeting for your driveway project, it’s worth noting that costs can vary widely depending on the job at hand. To help you plan ahead, it’s worth taking into account the following additional costs that can boost up the drop kerb price:

Local council inspection

Before dropping a kerb, the council will want to inspect the area to determine whether further work is needed to make the dropped kerb safe and compliant with regulations. The total cost for an inspection will depend on your local council’s pricing structure, but will typically come at around £200.

Removal of landscape

When inspecting the area, the council might suggest removing certain features of your landscape to make space. This could be a small garden wall or a nearby tree in which case you will need to factor in the cost of a tree surgeon. The price for removal of parts of your landscape can cost anywhere between £75 - £2,000, so it’s worth planning in advance if you suspect you will need additional help here.

Average removal of landscape costs:

• Moving a lamppost: £1,200
• Remove a tree: £600
• Moving an unlighted road sign: £350
• Moving a lighted road sign: £1,000
• Moving a stop valve/meter box: £35
• Move a fire hydrant: £55
• Move manhole cover: £100
• BT/CATV box work: £2,000

Waste removal

If landscaping elements are to be removed, you can factor in another £200 for the waste removal service to the final drop kerb cost.

Dropped kerb cost calculator

To calculate the cost of dropping a kerb, you need to factor in the size of the job, the number of kerbs involved and any services or utilities that might be affected by the work. Also, don’t forget to factor in the cost of a council inspection, the additional cost of removing any parts of the landscape (trees, shrubbery, etc), and the cost of removing any waste.

Quotes for dropping a kerb

We always recommend obtaining at least three quotes from tradespeople. Our request a quote feature is perfect for getting quotes – simply post the details about the job you want doing and we’ll send it out to local tradespeople in your area. Try it out!

Hourly rates to drop a kerb

Due to the nature of work involved in dropping a kerb, you’ll usually be charged a day rate for the work – somewhere in the region of £100 - £200 per day. If gardeners are needed for any clearance work they charge around £30 per hour.

FAQs

Do I need planning permission for a dropped kerb?

In most cases, dropping a kerb drop will require planning permission to be granted before the project can get underway. To find out whether you require planning permission, contact your local council. Their details can be found on the government website.

The first step will be for the council to arrange an inspection of the site, during which they will check the ground for pipes or cables which could pose problems in the installation process.

The council may also suggest structural or landscape changes to make the driveway as safe as possible.

How much does planning permission cost for a dropped kerb?

On average, the cost for planning permission for a dropped kerb will be between £50 - £400.

What happens if I drop a kerb without permission?

If you drop a kerb without applying for permission from the local authority, they may charge you the cost to have the kerb reinstated and repair any damage to the footpath.

Why would a local council refuse permission for a dropped kerb?

Planning permission for a dropped kerb can be refused if your local council deems it a road safety risk. This could be for one of the following reasons:

• If there is not enough visibility of oncoming traffic
• If your property is close to traffic lights
• If there’s not enough space for your vehicle
• If a street lamp, postbox, road sign and/or bench is blocking access
• If your property is on a bend, a road junction or there’s a steep slope between your property and the road

Can I drop a kerb myself?

Even if you have experience in this type of work and feel confident undertaking the project, it’s still essential to check with the council whether you need planning permission and arrange an inspection. In most cases, their approval of the project will require you to use a contractor from their preferred list, so DIY will usually be off the table.

Dropped kerb cost checklist

• The average drop kerb cost is £1,500 to create a new vehicle access point or £850 to widen an existing access point, including materials and labour.
• A planning application fee ranging between £50 - £400 should be factored into your budget based on the scope of work needed.
• The average driveway conversion requires between 3 – 7 kerbs to be removed. The cost of dropped kerbs will increase the more kerbs need removing.
• Always check with your local council whether you need planning permission and have them come round to inspect the area.