Updated July 2026
In short
A dropped kerb (or vehicle crossover) is a section of pavement kerb that’s lowered so a vehicle can legally cross from the road onto your driveway. It has to be approved by the highway authority under Section 184 and installed by a registered contractor to their specification.
It sounds simple — but “dropped kerb” covers the paperwork, the highway rules and the physical build all at once. Here’s exactly what one is, and what’s involved in getting one in Nottingham.
The short definition
A dropped kerb is where the raised kerb between the road and the footway is lowered flush, and the pavement behind it is rebuilt to take the weight of a vehicle. It lets you drive across the pavement onto your property without mounting a full-height kerb — which is both illegal and a fast way to wreck your tyres and the pavement. You’ll also hear it called a vehicle crossover, a dropped crossing, or just a “drop kerb”.
Why it’s more than lowering a kerb
- It’s on the public highway. The pavement is owned and maintained by the council, not you — so the work needs their permission and has to meet their spec.
- It needs proper foundations. The footway is dug out and rebuilt with a sub-base strong enough for vehicles, or it sinks and cracks within a couple of years.
- Services can be in the way. Gas, water, telecoms and drainage often run under the footway and sometimes have to be protected or lowered.
The approval: Section 184
Every dropped kerb in England is granted under Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980. You or your contractor apply to the highway authority, they check things like visibility, drainage and footfall, and either approve or refuse it. In Nottingham that’s Nottingham City Council inside the city and Nottinghamshire County Council (through its partner Via East Midlands) across the wider county. We handle the whole Section 184 application for you.
Who’s allowed to build one
Work on the highway must be carried out by a contractor registered with the council, using operatives who hold the right street-works qualifications (NRSWA / SWQR). A DIY kerb, or one done by an unregistered builder, won’t be signed off — more on that in do I need a professional contractor.
What it costs and how long it takes
Cost depends on the width, the kerb type and whether any services need moving — get a rough figure from our cost calculator or see typical prices. From enquiry to finished crossing is usually a few weeks, most of which is the council approval; the physical build is often done in a day or two.
Want it sorted properly?
We install council-approved dropped kerbs across Nottingham & Nottinghamshire — and handle the whole Section 184 application for you.
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