Drop kerbs · Practical advice
Which comes first: the driveway or the dropped kerb?
Coordinate the private driveway and highway work without undoing a finished surface.
Begin with the intended final layout
Before scheduling either job, agree where the entrance, parking area and pedestrian route will be. The driveway level and crossover transition must work together. Discuss gates, pillars, covers and drainage at this stage. A plan that deals only with the private paving can leave the highway contractor with an awkward connection later.
Check the current local sequence
East Sussex's published process states that the private driveway or hardstanding must be constructed before the vehicle-crossing works commence. Follow the current licence and construction-stage requirements for the project. Establish crossover feasibility before committing to a driveway layout, then coordinate the permitted sequence rather than choosing whichever contractor happens to be available first.
Agree the meeting point
Where two contractors are involved, identify who sets out and finishes the boundary between their work. Ask how the proposed levels are communicated and who is responsible for the final join. The same applies to drainage at the entrance. A marked drawing and a short coordination conversation can avoid one team building to a different assumption from the other.
Protect completed work
Construction access can damage a newly finished driveway if it is treated as a storage or turning area too soon. Agree where materials will be placed and how the surface will be protected. Follow the relevant installer instructions about loading and first use. Make sure the programme allows for these practical restrictions as well as the authority's arrangements.
Plan daily access and parking
Tell both contractors how the household needs to enter the property. Arrange alternative parking and explain any mobility requirements, deliveries or other constraints. Safe pedestrian arrangements must be maintained around highway works by the responsible contractor. Do not move barriers or use an unfinished crossing simply because the private driveway looks ready.
Close both scopes clearly
At the end, review the private work and highway interface together where possible. Keep the licence records, agreed variations and aftercare information. Ask the contractor to explain the completion process that applies and any remaining actions. This is especially useful when the work spans separate quotations: a neat join should not depend on the homeowner guessing which company owns a final detail.
Is it easier if one contractor handles both parts?
It can simplify coordination, but the private and highway requirements still need to be distinguished. Ask for both scopes and their responsibilities to be clear in writing.
Your project checklist
- Establish feasibility before fixing the driveway layout.
- Follow the current local sequence.
- Agree levels and the boundary join.
- Plan parking, protection and final checks.
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