Menu
close
If you are installing a new driveway on your home that you want to use to park your car, then you will need to have a dropped kerb installed. Finding the right contractors to help you with your dropped kerb application and installation can be key to getting it right the first time. Here at Terraform Driveways, we are approved dropped kerb contractors who can help you navigate the process and provide affordable and very high standard installation. You can trust us to do an excellent job that will last for years to come.
A dropped kerb, also known as a vehicle crossing, is a section of the kerb outside of a residential or commercial property that has been lower for it to become a vehicle access point for the property. This allows vehicles to cross the pavement that lies between the road and the driveway.
On a residential driveway, for example, usually around five kerb sections are dropped to make a big enough space for a vehicle to access the property.
If you intend to drive your vehicle across the placement to access your driveways, you will need to have a dropped kerb installed. Dropped kerbs are a legal requirement for vehicles to be able to drive on the pavement. If there isn't a dropped kerb, it isn't legal for you to drive across the pavement to your driveway.
If you want to have a dropped kerb installed outside your home, you will need to apply for permission from your local council. They all have slightly different application rules and charges but they will usually have someone to come out and conduct an inspection to ensure that your property is suitable for a kerb drop. They will also usually mark out your vehicle crossing with paint.
Next, you will need to have the drop kerb installed. This can only be done by approved contractors. Your local council will have a list of approved contractors that you can use but you are also free to find your own.
Council-approved contractors will usually have to conform to certain regulations, including:
If you are completing the planning application yourself, you will need to create and submit detailed drawings of your proposal, often including an Ordnance Survey location and block plan. Many companies will be able to take care of this process for you. And they will often complete and submit the entire planning application on your behalf.
After the job has been completed, the council will come out for a final inspection before going ahead and giving the dropped kerb final approval.
You don't always need planning permission to install a drop kerb in front of your house but there are certain situations where it will be required. Your local authority will be able to advise you about whether you are in a situation where planning permission would be required.
You can expect to need it if your property:
You may also require planning permission if the kerb will need to be raised by more than half a metre or lowered by more than a metre.
In terms of installing drop kerbs, there are some considerations that you will need to be aware of and that may prevent your local authority from approving your drop kerb planning application. If you have any doubt, just get in touch with them for advice.
Street furniture includes objects like street signs, lamposts, bins, and benches. If these are in the way of where you plan to install your dropped kerb then your application may be denied or you may need to pay extra to the council to have the street furniture removed. The costs for this can run into thousands of pounds.
There may be gas mains or other utilities directly underneath where you plan to have the kerb dropping. You will need to obtain permission from the utility company and the council to be able to reroute the supply. It can also be an expensive process for this work to be carried out.
If there is a tree in the area where you are planning to drop your kerb, your planning application may be refused. If you do obtain permission from your council to remove the tree, you will usually need to arrange and pay to have two new trees planted in other areas. The costs for this will vary depending on where you are located.
Planning applications for dropping kerbs can be refused for a variety of reasons. These can include:
You will have the right to appeal rejected planning applications and you can contact your local council for further information and advice about how to start this process.
If you are looking into drop kerbs so that you can install a new driveway for vehicle access, you will also need to adhere to certain regulations when it comes to the driveway part of your construction.
Whenever a dropped kerb and driveway is installed, there will be concerns about drainage. The company you use will need to install the correct drainage to divert water away from your property. The driveway will also need to be surfaced in a porous material to ensure that water can't pool. Something like a resin driveway is a good permeable option to ensure that water will drain into the ground, rather than pool on the surface.
You will also need to ensure that there is enough room to manoeuvre your car in your front garden for a driveway to be installed. If your garden is too small then your driveway and dropped kerb won't be approved. Some councils will specify a minimum length for your driveway and it needs to be long enough that your vehicle won't overhang the pavement.
Dropped kerbs will need to be tarmacked to the council's specifications and this will vary depending on where you are located.
Only cars or light goods vehicles are permitted to access properties over dropped pavements and it isn't suitable for heavy goods vehicles because of the weight. If you choose to install a place a skip during future works, you will be liable for any damage caused.
Parking in the UK is becoming more and more of an issue. With normal on-street parking, the space outside of your property is not yours and there is nothing that you can do to prevent anyone from parking there.
If you have a completed drop kerb outside your property, however, the law is that it needs to be accessible at all times. So no one will be able to park in front of it. If someone is obstructing your dropped kerb, you can contact the non-emergency police line on 101 to make a complaint or there should be contact details for the relevant authority at your local authority.
Dropped kerbs are essential if you want to install a new driveway so that you can park on your property. Getting the right company to deal with the paperwork and do a fantastic job of construction and installation is key. We have all of the relevant experience and accreditation to be able to complete this work for you to a high standard, so get in touch with us today and we can get the process started.
If your road is not listed as "A, B or Class III" then you don't need to get planning permission for a dropped kerb. But if it is, you will need to get it.
If you drive onto the public highway and damage services or the pavement, you are likely to be liable for an enormous bill. It is against the law. The lowered kerb (the dropped kerb) is one of these things. It also allows cars to cross over the footpath (public footway).
A dropped kerb (sloped area) is the place where the car goes from the road, to your house. If you don't get permission to build a dropped kerb, then you may be fined up to £1,000.
Does a house with parking have more value? Yes. It can be a big advantage to have a place to park your car. Sometimes, the house is worth 13% more than other houses like it that do not have parking spaces.