Dropped kerbs and vehicle crossings in Edinburgh and the Lothians
From Edinburgh to the smaller towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians, our dropped kerbs quotes list the depths, edging, drainage and VAT so you can compare like with like.
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
Rates in Edinburgh and the Lothians follow Scotland, about 2% below our UK midpoint.
| Item | Guide price (inc VAT) |
|---|---|
| Dropped kerb construction where the council allows an approved contractor | £980–£2,950 per job |
Towns we cover in Edinburgh and the Lothians
- Edinburgh
- Livingston
- Musselburgh
- Bathgate
- Bonnyrigg
- Penicuik
- Broxburn
- Linlithgow
- Dalkeith
- Armadale
- Tranent
- Whitburn
- Dunbar
- Prestonpans
- Haddington
Postcode areas: EH, ML.
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 Edinburgh and the Lothians
In Scotland, permitted development allows a hard surface between a house and a road only if it is porous or the water drains to a porous area within the property. Unlike England there is no 5 m² allowance, so it applies to any size. Conservation areas and the grounds of listed buildings have extra restrictions. The council, as roads authority, controls any new or widened access across a footway.
How it is built
Dropped kerbs and vehicle crossings in Edinburgh and the Lothians: questions
How much does a dropped kerb cost in Edinburgh and the Lothians?
As a 2026 guide, about £980–£2,950 per job inc VAT in Edinburgh and the Lothians. The survey confirms a fixed price.
Which towns in Edinburgh and the Lothians do you cover?
Edinburgh, Livingston, Musselburgh, Bathgate, Bonnyrigg, Penicuik, Broxburn, Linlithgow 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 Edinburgh and the Lothians
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