Dropped kerbs: definition and requirements
Definition
Dropped kerbs are lowered areas of pavement outside of a property that have been strengthened and made into a ramp shape to allow for vehicle crossing of the footway/pavement for access to park on an adjacent property.
Requirements
Parking area
To be approved you will need to have adequate space to park on the property. The requirements for this are to be at least 4.8m deep by 3.5m wide for a traditional pull on and off parking and at least 3m deep by 6m wide for side on parking. There will need to be a driveway or hardstanding in place that meets these requirements in order to proceed to the payment step, but this does not have to be in place to apply, however if it is not in place it is helpful to have what is planned.
Crossing and Costs
The minimum size of a new dropped kerb is roughly 3m with a starting cost of £900, which includes up to 2m towards the property. Extensions to existing dropped kerbs at a property will be extended a minimum of roughly 1m with a starting cost of £546.37, which includes up to 2m towards the property.
Larger width dropped kerbs will cost more as well as ones that are more than 2m from the property edge or where it will need to meet the property driveway or hardstanding. There may be additional charges if we need to remove any obstructions.
We will communicate if planning permission will need to be obtained for the dropped kerb during the assessment process. Planning permission is required for all dropped kerbs on road types that are not unclassified, and forms much of our key route network. However, the below can be a helpful guide:
Types of road classification:
- A road: Major road providing large-scale transport links within or between areas these are signed with a designation starting with A.
- B road: connects different areas and feeds traffic between A roads and smaller roads on the network these are signed with a designation starting with B.
- Classified Unnumbered roads: sometimes known unofficially as C roads are smaller roads that connect unclassified roads with A and B roads, eg linking a housing estate or village to the rest of the network
- Unclassified: local road intended for local traffic
Going through a grass verge is the most expensive type of dropped kerb as edging is needed to stabilize the soil. If the verge or any part of the dropped kerb works area is not part of the adopted highway you will need planning permission and permission from the owner of that area. We will communicate if permission from the owner is need during the assessment process.
We will communicate if permission from our arboriculture team will need to be obtained for the dropped kerb during the assessment process. The roots of a tree are the most vulnerable and we will not damage a tree to install a dropped kerb as that would be counter to our zero carbon strategy. If the proposed dropped kerb will involve coming anywhere that falls under the branches of a tree, permission will need to be obtained and this could affect the location of the access.