Vehicle Crossings Blog

Vehicle Crossings

What to do before getting drop kerb prices? Before you can move ahead with the job, there are a few steps you need to take. Since the pavement belongs to the local council, you will need to:

Check whether you need to apply for planning permission and apply for planning permission if required, Pay a non-refundable application fee.

Use an approved contractor to carry out the work. Councils may have a list of pre-approved contractors that they require you to work with. However, depending on their individual policies, they may allow you to choose your own contractor once planning permission has been granted. If you have the option to choose a contractor, use our search to find tradespeople that your neighbours recommend

Benefits of a drop kerb If you’re living in a city that’s short of parking spots, it makes sense to take advantage of your outdoor space for parking your car. On the other hand, you may be eager to enhance the kerb appeal of your property. You may also want to smooth out the area to make your property more accessible to wheelchair users. but, with a driveway comes the need for a dropped kerb – in other words, lowering the pavement to allow cars to drive safely on and off your property.

Local council inspection is undertaken before dropping a kerb, and the council will want to inspect the area to determine whether further work is needed to make the dropped kerb safe and compliant with regulations. The total cost for an inspection will depend on your local council’s pricing structure but will typically come at around £120-200.

FAQs

Do I need planning permission for a dropped kerb?

In most cases, dropping a kerb drop will require planning permission to be granted before the project can get underway especially if you live in a flat/maisonette or live on a principal road network. To find out whether you require planning permission, contact your local council where their details can be found on the government website.

The first step will be for the council to arrange an inspection of the site, during which they will check the ground for pipes or cables which could pose problems in the installation process. The council may also suggest structural or landscape changes to make the driveway as safe as possible.

What happens if I drop a kerb without permission?

If you drop a kerb without applying for permission from the local authority, they may charge you the cost to have the kerb reinstated and repair any damage to the footpath.

Why would a local council refuse permission for a dropped kerb?

Planning permission for a dropped kerb can be refused if your local council deems it a road safety risk. This could be for one of the following reasons: If there is not enough visibility of oncoming traffic If your property is close to traffic lights If there’s not enough space for your vehicle If a streetlamp, post box, road sign and/or bench is blocking access If your property is on a bend, a road junction or there’s a steep slope between your property and the road.

Can I drop a kerb myself?

Even if you have experience in this type of work and feel confident undertaking the project, it’s still essential to check with the council whether you need planning permission and arrange an inspection. In most cases, their approval of the project will require you to use a contractor from their preferred list, so DIY will usually be off the table

Factors affecting the cost of dropping a kerb.

A dropped kerb is the first step to a smooth, safe and stylish driveway – but it’s not as simple as just removing a piece of concrete. Since the pavement is owned by the council, there will be several factors that affect the total cost of dropping the kerb, including location.

Each local council will have their unique pricing structure and, in most cases, their preferred list of specialist contractors to use. There may also be a street work license to pay to the council, with the typical fee for this around £900.

Other services or utilities?

If your dropped kerb requires other services or utilities (e.g., phone box providers/chambers) to move or alter their connections they may be extra charges due. Often other service and utility providers will require their own workforce or agencies to make required alterations and you must cover their costs. Explore this topic early on in your planning if you anticipate that you may need to request movement of service, utility or 3rd party in the vicinity of your dropped kerb.

Number of kerbs?

Naturally, the number of kerbs that you need to drop to form a driveway will affect the total cost. For example, the average drop kerb prices for two kerbs will typically start at £900 for labour and materials, while the price you can expect for three kerbs is £1,000 and £1,200 for four.

Size of job?

It goes without saying that the scale of the project will have an impact on the kerb drop cost. A standard kerb drop might only take an hour or two to complete and therefore be priced at the cheaper end of the spectrum. However, if the project involves a large-scale driveway conversion, your budget should account for the extra work. Similarly, when dropping the kerb is part of a larger project such as installing a cobblestone or brick driveway, you may find higher planning application fees when applying for permission. Tradespeople often charge a day rate for their time at around £300 per day. As timescales increase to reflect the scope of the work involved and the materials needed, so too will the drop kerb cost quoted by a professional. Always check with your local council to get an accurate quote for planning fees so you can put aside the right budget for the work.

You may need to get the following before applying:

• advice about any protected trees on your property

• permission from the property owner if you’re a tenant.

• permission from the landowner if you need to drive over private land to get to your parking area.

• permission from the neighbourhood manager if the property is council owned or you do not own the proposed parking area of an ex-council property.

• planning permission

Planning permission

You will need planning permission before applying if the property is:

• a flat or maisonette and the parking area was built within the past 4 years.

• a listed building

• in a conservation area

• live on a principal road.

Other issues?

There are several conditions that your home must meet in order to have a dropped kerb installed for use with a driveway:

• The property can’t be on a bend or at a road junction.

• A tree can’t block the proposed crossing.

• Your property can’t be too close to traffic signals.

• There is a sufficient garden area – the car must not overhang onto the pathway.

• There is sufficient visibility.

Once the application has been approved, the work usually takes around 5-7 days and once completed you’re able to use your front area as a driveway.

Is there a streetlight, road sign or other street furniture in the way?

We can move a streetlight or other street furniture to create your dropped kerb if there is another site to move it to. You will need to pay for the relocation of the streetlight or street furniture.

Do I need the freeholder's approval?

If you live in a flat or maisonette, you will need a letter from the freeholder to confirm they approve of a dropped kerb being created.

Advice on protected trees

If you have a tree on your property which is protected by a Tree Preservation Order, email your local council for advice on what works you can do to your protected tree.

Permission from property owners

If you are a tenant, you will need written confirmation from the property owner to apply for a dropped kerb. You will also need permission from the landowner if you need to drive over private land to get to your parking area.

If the property is council owned or you do not own the proposed parking area on an ex-council property, contact your neighbourhood manager.

We will return your application if you do not have the correct permission when you submit it.

Email your local council if you have any questions about applying for a dropped kerb for a vehicle and they will get back to you normally within 10 working days.

Dropped kerb for vehicles during planned resurfacing works.

Before a council starts any planned resurfacing works in your area, they will let you know if you can apply to have a dropped kerb for a vehicle built or extended for a discounted fee.

You will need to send in an application before the works begin if you would like:

• a dropped kerb built as you are currently illegally driving over the pavement to enter your parking area.

• your current dropped kerb extended as it is too narrow for your parking area.

If we find you need to do works to your property, we will build or extend your dropped kerb and you will need to complete these works within 3 months.

If you do not apply but you have a parking area on your property, you will need to email your local council to tell us how you will stop vehicles from illegally crossing the pavement to your parking area after the works are done. If you do not do this, we may put up bollards outside your property to stop access. There will be a charge to have the bollards removed if you decide to apply for a dropped kerb for vehicles later.

Email your local council if you want to relocate your dropped kerb for a vehicle for free during pavement works. The width of the new dropped kerb for a vehicle must be the same as the original.

If we find a dropped kerb for a vehicle is no longer needed, we will remove this and restore the pavement to full height.

Can I choose the materials of the vehicle crossing?

No. The construction materials are determined by the engineer based on the street scene of existing crossings and other engineering factors such as type of vehicles and weight.

What is the minimum and maximum size of a crossing?

The minimum width of lowered kerb is 2.7 metres, and the maximum width of lowered kerb is 4.5 metres (3.6m where grass verges are present).

Tapering sloped kerbs are to be added to one or both sides of the crossing, which ranges from 0.6 metre to 0.9 metre for a sloped kerb.

There may well be existing crossings that exceed 4.5 metres of lowered kerb. However, this situation does not set any form of precedence and more restrictive policies have been introduced since these crossings were constructed.

What is the minimum depth of front garden to gain approval for a vehicle crossing?

There is a requirement to have a minimum of 4.8 metres of clear depth from the boundary of the property to the point that extends the furthest from the house (normally the bay window). This is to prevent vehicles from overhanging into the highway and thus preventing blocking the path of pedestrians. If you do not have a minimum of 4.8 metres depth, so long as you can accommodate a 5m x 2m parking bay without overhanging the footway, you may be able to have a vehicle crossing.

Can I extend my existing vehicle crossing?

There is a potential to extend the amount of lowered kerb to a maximum width of 4.5 metres (which is to include the existing amount of lowered kerb). For example, if you have an existing crossing of 2.5 metres of lowered kerb, there may be an opportunity to extend the crossing by an additional 2 metres of lowered kerb (4.5 - 2.5 = 2.0).

Can I apply for a second vehicle crossing?

There will be a presumption in favour to apply for a second crossing on heavily trafficked roads (Classified roads) to benefit road safety in allowing vehicles to enter and leave without reversing. However, a second crossing will not be permitted where grass verges or trees will be affected.

What if my existing crossing exceeds 4.5 metres of lowered kerb?

Any application submitted will be refused.

There is a lamp column outside my house where I want to locate a vehicle crossing?

If an existing lamp column interferes with a proposed crossing, a separate estimate will be prepared to inform you of the associated costs in relocating the lamp column. This may involve having to erect a secondary lamp column to maintain the correct amount of light and column spacing.

Will a street tree affect my application?

If a tree is situated within the proposed vehicle crossing, your application will be referred to a Tree Officer. They will gauge whether the tree can be removed. If so, two new saplings will be planted in the borough at your expense.

This option is only available if the tree is dead, diseased or dangerous. Generally, a crossing should have a minimum clearance of 4 x the tree trunk circumference to allow safe construction without affecting the health and stability of the tree.

If a tree is near to where you are proposing a vehicle crossing, a trial excavation maybe required, at your expense, and details of these costs can be found of the fees leaflet.

There is a fire Hydrant in the footway where I want the vehicle crossing to be constructed.

You will need to contact your local water supplier to establish if the valve is low enough for the vehicle crossing to be constructed. If the valve is not low enough, you will be charged by the water supplier to relocate or lower the hydrant. The marker plate may also need to be relocated and updated to reflect the new information of the position of the hydrant. You will be required to send any correspondence letters from your water supplier in order to update our records and construct the crossing.

There is a Telegraph Pole or Cable TV/British Telecom Cabinet in the footway where I want the vehicle crossing to be constructed.

You are required to contact the utility supplier to establish if the equipment can be relocated. All costs borne by the applicant. You will then need to provide all copies of documentation at the time of application.

My property is a council house. Do I need permission?

Yes. Approval in writing from the Housing department will be required on completion of the estimate by gaining permission to revert the front garden to appropriate hardstanding facilities.

On receipt of this permission, you are requested to forward all correspondence in order to update your file.

Do I need Planning permission?

Planning permission will be required if your property is:

• a flat

• maisonette

• if access is proposed from a principal road

• if the address is a business property

The period to achieve planning permission can be between 8 – 12 weeks.

The current fee is:

• £206 for a single dwelling

• £407 for two dwellings

• £234 for businesses

If planning permission is required due the property being a flat or maisonette or if access is proposed from a principal road, please use the Householder Application, Town & Country Planning Act 1990.

If planning permission is required due the property being a business property, please use the Full Application, Town & Country Planning Act 1990.

There is also a requirement to apply for planning permission if you live in a conservation area which will stipulate the materials to be used on the front garden.

You are required to send a copy of the full planning permission when making the full payment in order to update our records.

How do I reconstruct my front garden to accommodate my vehicle?

There is a requirement to reconstruct your frontage using permeable materials. It must be a minimum of 25% of the front garden's dimensions and can be done as permeable block paving. Such paving must have permeable areas into which surface water can drain but must not discharge on to the highway or connect with the rainwater down pipes.

Other materials that are acceptable are Grass Crete and gravelled material. Please ensure that an apron of hard material is constructed across the frontage of the property to prevent stones being introduced onto the highway and thus causing a safety concern. Find out more about paving your front garden.

I have a Parking Bay outside my house; can I still have a crossing?

Yes, you can, unless it is for a disabled bay installed for another resident. The bay will be removed on completion of the works. There is a fee to remove parking bays which will be included within the estimate.