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Highway Consent

Dropped Kerbs & Access in Cambridge

A legal vehicle crossover from the public highway to your hardstanding, with council consent handled from the start.

  • Survey First
  • Section 184 Consent
  • Full Written Quote
Dropped Kerbs & Access carried out by a professional driveways

What Goes Wrong

Where dropped kerb jobs fail, and how to avoid it

No Consent Obtained

Starting work without highway consent is an offence; the council can require full reinstatement at the owner’s cost.

Section 184 Application

A formal application under Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980 is submitted before any construction begins.

Services Not Checked

Cambridge streets often have shallow verges where cables or pipes run directly through the proposed construction zone.

Underground Services Survey

An underground services check is completed as part of the consent process before any excavation takes place.

Kerb Not Strengthened

A kerb that is only lowered visually, without footway strengthening, will crack under repeated vehicle loads within months.

Crossover Specification

The council specifies the kerb strengthening and footway construction depth required to carry vehicle loads safely.

Wrong Access Width

An access point that is too narrow for the vehicle or does not meet the council’s minimum width will be refused or require alteration.

Access Width Measured

The site survey measures the required crossing width before the consent application is submitted to the highway authority.

Permission First

Dropped kerbs: the consent process and what the work involves

Installing a vehicle crossing without highway consent is an offence, the council can require you to reinstate the original kerb at your cost.

Request a Survey

Any vehicle crossing over a public footway requires highway consent from Cambridgeshire County Council under Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980. The application covers the proposed crossing width, the kerb strengthening specification, and an underground services check to confirm no cables or pipes run through the construction zone. Work cannot legally begin until consent is granted, regardless of what the driveway behind it looks like.

Once consent is issued, the physical work involves lowering the existing kerb to a vehicle-crossover profile, strengthening the footway construction to carry vehicle loads, and altering the verge or grass strip if one sits between the footway and the road edge. Cambridge streets often have narrow footways and shallow verges, which can affect the construction method and the time needed to complete the crossing safely.

A completed legal crossing gives you the right to drive over the footway to reach your hardstanding. It also means other vehicles cannot legally park across your dropped kerb and block your access. The survey confirms whether the property qualifies, measures the access width needed, and identifies any underground services before the consent application is submitted.

Scope of Work

What a dropped kerb installation covers

From the initial site check through to a completed, council-approved vehicle crossover.

Highway Consent Application

Section 184 consent submitted to Cambridgeshire County Council.

Underground Services Check

Confirms no cables or pipes run through the construction zone.

Access Width Measurement

Site survey records the crossing width before consent is applied for.

Council Highway Licence

Licence obtained from the highway authority before construction starts.

Why Choose Us

Why use us for dropped kerbs & access in Cambridge?

Local knowledge of Cambridge highway requirements and a clear process from survey to completed crossing.

Local Contractors Who Know Cambridge Roads

Partners are familiar with Cambridgeshire County Council’s consent process and local street conditions.

Survey Arranged Before Any Commitment

A local contractor visits the site, assesses the crossing, and quotes in full before work is agreed.

Consent Process Managed From the Start

The Section 184 application to the highway authority is handled as part of the service, not left to you.

Written Quote Covering All Elements

The quote sets out excavation, kerb work, footway strengthening, and verge alteration as separate line items.

Underground Services Checked Before Digging

Services are identified at survey stage so the construction method accounts for what is below ground.

A completed driveways job at a house
A finished driveways project

The Process

From enquiry to a completed legal crossing

Request a Survey

  1. 01

    Request a Survey

    Tell us the property details and a local contractor will visit to assess the site and measure the access width.

  2. 02

    Submit Consent Application

    The Section 184 highway consent application is submitted to Cambridgeshire County Council on your behalf.

  3. 03

    Complete the Crossing

    Once consent is granted, the kerb is lowered, the footway strengthened, and the crossing is built to specification.

Pricing Estimates

Typical Dropped Kerbs & Access Prices

JobTypical cost
Dropped kerb application and worksFrom £183
Access alteration for new drivewayFrom £183
These prices are estimates and often vary with the condition, size and scope of each job. Message or call us for a free, no-obligation quote.
See all prices

Common Questions

Dropped kerb questions answered

  • Do I need permission before I have a dropped kerb put in?

    Yes, you need permission from your local highway authority before any kerb on a public road is lowered. The pavement and kerb are highway land, so the council must approve the work and usually appoint its own contractor to carry out the kerb-lowering element. Skipping this step can result in the work being removed at your cost.

  • Can I drive over the pavement to get onto my drive without a dropped kerb?

    No. Driving over an unmodified kerb and pavement is illegal and damages the highway surface. It can also void your vehicle insurance if an incident occurs. A properly constructed dropped kerb with a reinforced crossing is the only lawful way to create a vehicle access point from a public road.

  • How much does it cost to have a kerb dropped?

    Most dropped kerb installations come in at around £183, depending on the number of kerb units, pavement depth, sub-base condition, and whether a drainage channel is needed. Council application fees are separate and vary by authority.

  • Will a dropped kerb work for my driveway and the size of vehicle I use?

    In most cases, yes, but the crossing width and reinforcement spec need to match your vehicle. A standard car needs a minimum 2.7-metre-wide crossing; a van or SUV typically needs 3 metres or more. A site survey confirms the right width, gradient, and sub-base depth for your specific vehicle and driveway layout.

  • Do you need to look at what is under the pavement before the work starts?

    Yes. Utility services, gas, water, electricity, telecoms, often run beneath the pavement. A survey identifies their positions before excavation begins, so the work can be planned around them. Striking a service without prior checks causes delays, costs, and safety risks.

  • How much of the pavement or verge needs to be changed to make access?

    The affected area depends on your driveway width and the existing kerb height. Typically, two to four kerb units are lowered and the pavement behind them is excavated and re-laid with a reinforced sub-base to carry vehicle weight. A grass verge between the pavement and road may also need to be removed and made up.

  • Is a dropped kerb the same as just lowering the kerb outside my house?

    No. Lowering the kerb is one part of the job. A proper vehicle crossing also requires the pavement behind the kerb to be excavated and rebuilt with a load-bearing sub-base, and sometimes a drainage channel added. Without the reinforced crossing, the pavement surface will crack under vehicle weight within months.

  • Does the work include strengthening the crossing as well as lowering the kerb?

    Yes. The pavement section behind the dropped kerb is excavated and rebuilt with a compacted sub-base rated for vehicle loads. This is a requirement of most council specifications and is what distinguishes a compliant vehicle crossing from simply swapping kerb units.

More questions about Dropped Kerbs & Access?

Get a Legal Vehicle Crossing in Cambridge

Tell us about your property and we’ll arrange a local contractor to survey the site, advise on the consent process, and provide a full written quote.

Request a Survey