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.

How much does a dropped kerb cost in County Durham?
Rates in County Durham follow the North East, about 7% below our UK midpoint.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Dropped kerb construction where the council allows an approved contractor | £930–£2,800 per job |
Towns we cover in County Durham
- Darlington
- Hartlepool
- Stockton-on-Tees
- Durham
- Chester-le-Street
- Houghton-le-Spring
- Billingham
- Stanley
- Consett
- Newton Aycliffe
- Bishop Auckland
- Seaham
- Peterlee
- Spennymoor
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
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