Dropped Kerbs /faint

platypus

platypus

platypus

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We've got planning permission to drop the kerb outside the front of our house. Our council require an approved contractor (from a fairly long list) to do this and the quotes we're getting are coming in around £1,300 + VAT.

Am I missing something? Is it really that expensive to drop a kerb? Searching seems to suggest nearer £1,000. Is it a usual case of Cambridge premium?

The quote includes 3 bullnose and a pair of ramps, and full construction of the path if necessary (I'm guessing it will be).

I feel like this is the kind of job that would take me an afternoon (albeit not legally)..
 
Cambridge premium and "approved contractor" any monkey with a shovel could probably do it for a couple of hundred quid in an afternoon but that doesn't pay the councillors pocket money.
 
classic problem with a closed shop, prices are always to high. Really any contractor should be able to do it and the council should inspect it with the home owner being responsible for ensure the work is done correctly. Sadly as said above this wouldn't line the councils coffers with cash to pay for the hundreds of employees who do little/nothing.
 
This may sound daft, but if OP did it himself or used a none approved contractor, what would happen?

I expect the council would not even notice this having been done, it is not like they inspect each and every road is it?
 
Ace Modder said:
This may sound daft, but if OP did it himself or used a none approved contractor, what would happen?

I expect the council would not even notice this having been done, it is not like they inspect each and every road is it?
Click to expand...

They also gave us planning permission after using Street View, and charged us £80 (I think it was) for the privilege!

I did wonder about just doing it myself and dealing with the fallout if it ever gets noticed...we can get dropped kerb pieces so cheaply as well. Grrr.
 
I'm sure I paid about double that to have mine done in Liverpool at my last hose. That was a dropped kerb with the grass section in between dug up and tarmacked. Absolute con as my entire driveway didn't cost much more than that! Unfortunately my neighbour worked for that part of the council so if I'd done it myself I'm pretty sure it would have been flagged up.
 
whilst there's no doubt any monkey can do it - altering a council footpath means you need to get permission from them to close it for x number of days, you may also have to get permissions/agreements with any service providers who have utilities etc below the pavement - none of which is a worry but it can be a complete pain in the bum... and can get messy quickly.
(for example it has taken us nearly three months to get an agreement with the council, gas authority and power company to close a road for 1 day, even with an alternative route less than 100m away!)
 
Cost us that 17 years ago in Teesside. Only the Council could officially do the work, so no choice of who to do it - just accept the price or not have it done

Admittedly, only one in three peeps (finger in the air from walking dogs) actually has a drop kerb - most just drive straight over or park on the grass verge :(
 
platypus said:
We've got planning permission to drop the kerb outside the front of our house. Our council require an approved contractor (from a fairly long list) to do this and the quotes we're getting are coming in around £1,300 + VAT.

Am I missing something? Is it really that expensive to drop a kerb? Searching seems to suggest nearer £1,000. Is it a usual case of Cambridge premium?

The quote includes 3 bullnose and a pair of ramps, and full construction of the path if necessary (I'm guessing it will be).

I feel like this is the kind of job that would take me an afternoon (albeit not legally)..
Click to expand...


Are you sure that your council require you use an approved contractor? In most cases you can use your own contractor and pay a fee for it to be checked (It looks like it's £183 for Cambridge).

If it's Cambridgeshire go to http://www4.cambridgeshire.gov.uk/info/20081/roads_and_pathways/110/dropped_kerbs and click on "Procedure and specification for the construction of vehicular access (PDF, 52KB)."
 
Yeah, cost us about that last year to drop 5 kerb stones and tarmac the path. They charged by the kerb stone but we wanted the entire width of the house done and three has already been dropped for the driveway.
 
Looking at doing this myself and I think our kerb charged by how many kerbs needed to come down. Think it worked out at roughly £800+VAT if memory serves.

Think i'll just get our driveway done first then if it is a real pain driving up the kerb all the time i'll bite the bullet and get it dropped. Probably will have to do it sooner rather than later though as our kerbs are quite big :(
 
Mine was £270 for 6 curbs . They did say that if it has to be over a path/ phone box drain it would have been £1300
 
My dad cemented 2 bits of scaffold bars by the curbs. Worked a treat and never had any issues.
 
platypus said:
We've got planning permission to drop the kerb outside the front of our house. Our council require an approved contractor (from a fairly long list) to do this and the quotes we're getting are coming in around £1,300 + VAT.

Am I missing something? Is it really that expensive to drop a kerb? Searching seems to suggest nearer £1,000. Is it a usual case of Cambridge premium?

The quote includes 3 bullnose and a pair of ramps, and full construction of the path if necessary (I'm guessing it will be).

I feel like this is the kind of job that would take me an afternoon (albeit not legally)..
Click to expand...

It's all about services running under the pavement and insurance to cover damage to them. Look at it this way though, in Cambridge it will add more to the value of your house than it's going to cost you.
 
Prices can vary depending on region and anywhere from £450-£2k for your work is about right.

My suggestion would be to pay the money, use the approved contractor and then you won't need to worry about anything else. Their indemnities will be in place to cover possible issues as part their framework agreement with the local highway authority, amongst other things.

That is worth paying the extra for, you do not want to be liable for issues caused on the public highway by your own self appointed contractor.

How hard can it be; is not a phrase you want to test out with civils contractors.
 
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platypus said:
They also gave us planning permission after using Street View, and charged us £80 (I think it was) for the privilege!

I did wonder about just doing it myself and dealing with the fallout if it ever gets noticed...we can get dropped kerb pieces so cheaply as well. Grrr.
Click to expand...

How long does planning permission last? We don't currently have a drive, but I was thinking of getting planning then wait till the road is being worked on and ask if they can do it for a few £100.
 
For labour, materials and admin that doesn't seem too unreasonable.

A previous job I had involved that sort of thing, snagging on public footways. A 2 man gang doing tarmac patches, driveways, kerbs, etc was several £hundred per day. You needed to apply for a notice to work on each bit from the council otherwise you'd get fined. They keep a log of all works and you'd be responsible for any issues.
 
Guy at work decided to drop his own kerb after recieving extorniate council quites.

He never told me what it cost him in materials but i know the council found out and made him pay the approved contractors to come and put it back how it was. Ended up costing him an absolute fortune

Moral of story - dont do it yourself!
 
I wouldnt do it myself. Councils exist purely to make your life a nightmare. Just pay their extortionate fee and consider it a "quality of life luxury tax".

We've all seen those stories of councils fencing in disabled access etc that wasnt approved.
 
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