Groundworks Explained: A Homeowner's Guide to Patios, Driveways & Dropped Kerbs in Kent

"Groundworks" is the umbrella term for every bit of preparation and construction that happens at ground level around your home — the base layers, surfaces, edges and drainage that turn bare earth into usable, durable outdoor space. For homeowners across Kent and London, understanding what good groundworks actually involve is the difference between a driveway that lasts twenty years and one that sinks after the first winter.

RTA Groundworks is a family-run business of three brothers based in Sittingbourne, working across the Medway Towns, Tonbridge, Canterbury, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells, Whitstable and every London borough. This guide breaks down the main groundworks disciplines, what each one involves, and what to look for when you commission work on your own property.

What groundworks covers

A typical residential groundworks project spans several trades. Patios require a properly excavated and compacted sub-base, a sharp sand or mortar bedding layer, and accurate falls so rainwater runs off rather than pooling. Driveways — whether block paving, resin-bound, tarmac or concrete — live or die by their foundation: insufficient excavation or compaction leads to rutting, weed growth and surface failure. Dropped kerbs (vehicle crossovers) are a specialist groundworks task that also involves a highways application, so the work meets council specifications. Fencing, concreting and drainage round out the core disciplines, and all three must be planned together — a new driveway that ignores existing drainage runs will flood at the first heavy downpour.

Why the base layer matters more than the surface

The single most common reason groundworks fail is a poorly prepared sub-base. The visible surface — the paving blocks, the resin, the tarmac — is only as stable as what lies beneath it. A proper sub-base is excavated to the correct depth for the expected load, filled with MOT Type 1 hardcore, and compacted in layers with a vibrating plate. For driveways that carry vehicles, skipping this step to save time or cost is a false economy: within months you will see dips, cracks and drainage problems that cost far more to put right than doing the base properly the first time.

Dropped kerbs and the council process

A dropped kerb lets you legally drive over the pavement to access your property. In Kent and London this requires a vehicle crossover application to your local highways authority, which checks the location for visibility, proximity to junctions and parking restrictions. A reputable groundworks contractor will handle the application for you and construct the crossover to the council's specification — including the correct kerb units, haunching and reinstatement of the footway. Doing this work without approval can result in enforcement action and the council charging you to reinstate the original kerb.

Drainage: the part you cannot see

New hardstanding almost always changes how rainwater behaves on your property. Since 2008, most front driveways in England require Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) — typically permeable surfaces or a drainage channel that directs runoff into a soakaway rather than the public sewer. Good groundworks design accounts for this from the start, blending drainage into the build so the finished surface looks clean and the water has somewhere to go. Ignoring drainage is one of the most expensive mistakes a homeowner can make.

How to choose a groundworks contractor

• Ask for proof of public liability insurance and written guarantees.
• Visit completed local projects or ask for recent references in your area.
• Confirm whether they handle the council application for dropped kerbs themselves.
• Insist on an itemised quote that specifies excavation depths and sub-base materials.
• Avoid any contractor who skips the sub-base or cannot explain their drainage plan.

RTA Groundworks covers the full range of groundworks across Kent and London — from the initial site visit and free quote through to the final handover, with no sub-contractors. You deal directly with the three brothers doing the work, which keeps communication clear and accountability built in. Whether you are planning a new patio in Tonbridge, a resin driveway in Sevenoaks or a dropped kerb anywhere from Sittingbourne to the M25, the same standard applies: the right base, the right drainage, and a finish built to last.