Drop Kerb Installation in Cornwall
Drop Kerbs Experts
Drop kerb installation across Cornwall. Qualified highway contractors. From application to completion.
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RW Groundworks
Drop Kerb Contractors in Cornwall
Need a dropped kerb to create a vehicle crossing into your property? You'll want to know the drop kerb cost, the process, and who can actually do the work. RW Groundworks handles drop kerb installation across Cornwall — from the council application through to the finished crossing.
Reuben Williams has been in construction for over 12 years. Our team includes qualified highway operatives, which means we're set up to work on the public highway safely and legally. We have our own plant and equipment, so there's no waiting around for hire kit — we turn up ready to work.
We cover drop kerb Cornwall wide, from Helston across to Truro, Falmouth, Penzance, Redruth, Newquay and the surrounding areas.
RW Groundworks and Civil Engineering Limited
RW Groundworks
What Is a Drop Kerb?
A drop kerb (also called a dropped kerb or vehicle crossover) is a lowered section of kerb that allows vehicles to drive across the pavement between the road and your property. Without one, driving over a standard kerb is illegal and can damage your vehicle, the pavement, and underground services.
If you want to park on your front drive or create a new vehicle entrance to your property, you need a properly installed drop kerb with council approval.
Recent Job
Drop Kerb in Newquay
A new driveway drop kerb for a homeowner in Newquay, October 2026. New radius kerbs, concrete back edges, a 20mm base and a fresh 6mm tarmac top, done in two days: day one we prepped the crossing and took the old material away, day two the base and the top went down. The footway was closed and signed while we worked.
★★★★★ “They kept everything neat and tidy and left the area spotless once the work was completed. The quality of workmanship was excellent.”
S P, Newquay, Google review
RW Groundworks
Drop Kerb Cost: Priced After a Free Site Visit
Every drop kerb is priced individually after a free site visit, because the cost depends on the width of the crossing, the pavement construction, and whether there are any services (gas, water, electric, telecoms) under the pavement that need protecting or diverting.
At the site visit we assess the pavement construction, check for services and measure the crossing width, then give you a fixed quote that covers everything: excavation, new kerbs, pavement reinstatement and making good.
The vehicle crossing licence fee is separate and paid directly to Cornwall Council; the council publishes its current fee on its website.
RW Groundworks
How to Get a Dropped Kerb in Cornwall
Step 1: Apply to Cornwall Council for a vehicle crossing licence
Every dropped kerb in Cornwall needs a vehicle crossing licence (a Section 184 licence) from Cornwall Council, whether or not you also need planning permission. Applying is a two-stage process:
1. Check planning first with the council's planning permission checklist. If you need planning permission, get it before you apply.
2. Make sure your parking area is big enough: the council will not approve a crossing for a hardstanding smaller than 2.5m wide by 5.0m deep, and it must sit at right angles to the road.
3. You, the property owner, apply online with a plan showing where the crossing will go. The council inspects the site, and once it approves, you pay the council's licence fee.
4. Your accredited contractor then applies for permission to do the work. The council requires a contractor with both the Streetworks Supervisor and Operative qualifications and at least £5 million public liability insurance.
Allow a minimum of six weeks for the council to process the application. We can advise on the application and help you get it right first time.
Step 2 — Site Survey
Once approved, we survey the site to check pavement depth, existing kerb type, drainage, and underground services. This determines the construction method and final cost.
Step 3 — Installation
We excavate the pavement, remove the existing kerbs, install new drop kerbs to the council's specification, and reinstate the pavement surface. For a standard single crossing, this is usually a one to two day job.
On our recent driveway crossing in Newquay it was two days: day one we prepped the crossing and took the old material away, day two the base and the tarmac top went down (new radius kerbs, concrete back edges, a 20mm base and a 6mm top).
Step 4 — Reinstatement
The pavement is reinstated to match the existing surface — tarmac, block paving, or slabs depending on what's there. We leave the crossing tidy and ready to use.
CONSTRUCTION & GROUNDWORKS
Services Areas We Cover
RW Groundworks operates across Cornwall from our base in Helston. Eight core service areas, all within easy reach of the A30 corridor.
TESTIMONIALS
What Our Customers Say on Google
very helpful from the outset, quick friendly service.
Fantastic service. The whole team were so coordinated and professional and communicated at each step of the process. It was a very smooth process and would recommend RW Groundworks over other companies. Photo shows final works of the garden where you can’t even see signs of ground works and with no corners have been cut to return to the original state.
The team did an excellent job installing my driveway dropped kerb, and I couldn’t be happier with the result. Everyone was professional, friendly and hardworking throughout. They kept everything neat and tidy and left the area spotless once the work was completed. The quality of workmanship was excellent.
Brilliant from start to finish, managed to make the project meet strict budget needs, site left clean and tidy. Will definitely use again and would recommend to anyone.
RW Groundworks were fully committed to meeting a strict programme whilst also achieving an excellent standard of quality when working on our bespoke residential project.
The Process
3 Step Process For Your Drop Kerbs Needs
Contact Us
Start by completing the 'Get a Free Quote' form on our website to share your Drop Kerbs needs with us.
Schedule Your Estimate
Next, we'll arrange a property visit at a time that works for you to provide an in-person estimate for your Drop Kerbs needs.
Get The Job Done
After you approve our estimate, we'll schedule a date to complete the job. Our team will work hard to exceed your expectations!
F.A.Q
Drop Kerbs Frequently Asked
Questions
Here are answers to common questions about our Drop Kerbs services.
Q: How much does a drop kerb cost in Cornwall?
A: Every drop kerb is priced individually after a free site visit, because the cost depends on the width of the crossing, the pavement construction and whether services under the pavement need protecting. You get a fixed quote, so you know the exact cost before committing.
Q: Do I need planning permission for a drop kerb?
A: Sometimes. Cornwall Council publishes a planning permission checklist to check whether your property needs it, and if it does you must get planning permission before applying for the crossing. Every dropped kerb needs a vehicle crossing licence (Section 184 licence) from the council either way. We can guide you through the application.
Q: How do I apply for a drop kerb in Cornwall?
A: The property owner applies to Cornwall Council for a vehicle crossing licence online, with a plan showing where the crossing will go. The council inspects the site, and once it approves you pay the council's licence fee. Your accredited contractor then applies for permission to carry out the works. Allow a minimum of six weeks.
Q: How long does drop kerb installation take?
A: The physical installation usually takes one to two days for a standard crossing. Cornwall Council takes a minimum of six weeks to process the application before work can start. We recommend getting the application in early so there's no delay once it's approved.
Q: Can I install a drop kerb myself?
A: No. Work on the public highway must be carried out by a contractor who is approved or acceptable to the highway authority. Doing it yourself is illegal and can result in enforcement action, fines, and being required to reinstate the pavement at your own cost. You need an approved contractor with the right qualifications.
Q: What does "approved contractor" mean for drop kerbs?
A: Cornwall Council requires the contractor to hold both the Streetworks Supervisor and Operative qualifications and at least £5 million public liability insurance, and recommends getting at least three quotes. Our team holds highway operative qualifications and CSCS cards, and we carry public liability insurance covering highway work. We meet the council's requirements.
Q: What is a pavement crossover?
A: A pavement crossover is the full construction across the pavement from the road to your property boundary. It includes the dropped kerbs at the road edge, the reinforced pavement across the footway, and any transition kerbs. It's the complete vehicle crossing — "drop kerb" is the common name, but "crossover" is the technical term.
Q: Why might a drop kerb application be refused?
A: Common reasons for refusal include poor visibility at the proposed crossing point, being too close to a junction or pedestrian crossing, insufficient space within the property for parking, and locations where the crossing would affect highway drainage or services. If your application is refused, the council will give reasons, and it may be possible to amend and resubmit.
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