Edges, drainage and kerbs

Dropped kerbs and vehicle crossings in County Durham

Dropped kerbs and vehicle crossings in County Durham are priced from a site survey and an itemised specification, adjusted for the North East rates.

COUNTY DURHAM GUIDE£930–£2,800 per job inc VAT
Dropped kerb crossing with a new tarmac footway strip, typical of dropped kerb work

How much does a dropped kerb cost in County Durham?

Rates in County Durham follow the North East, about 7% below our UK midpoint.

ItemGuide price (inc VAT)
Dropped kerb construction where the council allows an approved contractor£930–£2,800 per job

Towns we cover in County Durham

Postcode areas: DH, DL, SR, TS.

What is included?

A dropped kerb, or vehicle crossing, is a section of pavement and kerb lowered and strengthened so a vehicle can legally cross the footway to reach a driveway. It needs the highway authority's approval before any work starts.

  • Check the frontage: trees, lamp posts, covers, junctions and sight lines
  • Help preparing the application and site plan
  • Planning permission check for classified roads
  • Construction to the council's specification where approved contractors are allowed
  • Footway reinstatement in tarmac or to match
  • Coordinated with the new drive so both are finished together

Rules in County Durham

In England, householder permitted development (Class F of the 2015 General Permitted Development Order) lets you lay a hard surface in front of a house without planning permission if it is porous, or if the rainwater is directed to a permeable area within the property. If the area is more than 5 m² and neither applies, you need permission. Standard dense tarmac is not porous, so a dense tarmac drive needs a lawn, border, channel to a soakaway or other permeable route for its water. If the job needs a dropped kerb, the highway authority (the county or unitary council) approves it before any work on the footway.

Dropped kerbs and vehicle crossings in County Durham: questions

How much does a dropped kerb cost in County Durham?

As a 2026 guide, about £930–£2,800 per job inc VAT in County Durham. The survey confirms a fixed price.

Which towns in County Durham do you cover?

Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees, Durham, Chester-le-Street, Houghton-le-Spring, Billingham, Stanley and more.

How long does a dropped kerb take?

Approval often takes weeks; building is usually 1–2 days.

How much does a dropped kerb cost?

It depends on the council. Application fees seen in 2026 run from about £100 to £400, and building typically costs about £1,000–£3,000, sometimes more where utilities need protecting. Some councils quote a fixed price and build it themselves.

Other services in County Durham

Free survey for new surfacing

Get a written tarmac quote

Send a postcode and a rough size and we'll arrange a survey. Every quote lists the layers, edging, drainage and VAT.

  • Surface courseDEPTH + MIX
  • Binder courseDEPTH + MIX
  • Sub-baseDEPTH + MATERIAL
  • Edges, drainage, VATITEMISED
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