Last updated October 2026
Drainage and depth decide most South West drives. Bath and North East Somerset wants surface water dealt with inside your plot and shown on the kerb application; Bristol requires a linear drain at the boundary where a drive falls towards the pavement; Torbay wants a parking area of at least 6.0 m by 3.2 m. A permeable resin bound drive makes the drainage conditions easier to meet. Two cars on about 50 m² typically cost £4,000 to £7,500 at UK prices. We arrange a vetted local resin driveway installer across the region and confirm who within 2 working days, or tell you if we can’t.
How do the councils compare?
| Council | What changes the job |
|---|---|
| Bristol City Council | Linear drain at the boundary where the drive falls to the road; £344 domestic crossing fee |
| Bath and North East Somerset | Surface water managed inside the plot, shown on the plan |
| Devon County Council | £568 licence, applied for by your contractor; building the crossing £1,500 to £3,000 |
| Torbay Council | £192.40; parking area at least 6.0 m by 3.2 m |
| Plymouth City Council | £104 to apply plus £128 at conditional approval; space 4.8 m by 2.7 m |
| Cornwall Council | Two applications (you and your contractor); 2.5 m by 5.0 m; £438 licence |
| Dorset Council | £390 licence; at least 5 m from pavement to house |
| BCP Council | £130 to apply; guide price £2,000 for a standard crossover |
How it works
Send your postcode, the drive size and photos of the frontage and pavement. We arrange a vetted local installer and confirm who within 2 working days, or tell you if we can’t. Alex Winser at WeDo Property Services helps with the kerb application and stays your contact.
Sources
- Bristol City Council, vehicle crossover s171 and s184 guidance, rates from 1 Apr 2024
- Bath and North East Somerset Council, apply for a dropped kerb, read 17 Oct 2026
- Devon County Council, dropped kerb application for contractors, fees from 1 Apr 2026
- Torbay Council, dropped kerbs, read Oct 2026
- Plymouth City Council, dropped kerbs, read 17 Oct 2026
- Cornwall Council, apply to install a new dropped kerb, updated 12 Aug 2026
- Dorset Council, dropped kerb licence, read 17 Oct 2026
- BCP Council, apply for a dropped kerb, read Oct 2026
Which places does this cover?
Bristol, Bath, Devon including Exeter and Torbay, Plymouth, Cornwall, Dorset, and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Their own pages are being released in batches; this hub is the place to start.