Dropped Kerb and Driveway Drawings: A Complete Guide

DKp provides with drawings for dropped kerb and driveway applications, which are essential for homeowners, developers, and business owners who require vehicle access to their properties. These technical drawings must meet local authority standards to ensure compliance with planning and highway regulations. See below how we can help.

Dropped kerb and driveway drawings are necessary for demonstrating compliance with council regulations and ensuring safety for pedestrians and road users. They also help verify that essential infrastructure, such as drainage and utilities, remains unaffected. Without precise drawings, applications may be rejected, leading to delays and additional costs.

Site Location Plan

The site location plan should accurately depict the property and its surroundings. It must illustrate the proposed dropped kerb, nearby roads, intersections, existing dropped kerbs, and property boundaries. This plan typically needs to be at a scale of 1:1250.

Existing and Proposed Plans

These plans show current pavement conditions and proposed modifications, detailing the number of kerb stones to be lowered, the driveway width, and any pavement adjustments needed. The drawings should also assess potential impacts on drainage systems, underground utilities, and tree roots. These drawings are usually at a scale of 1:500 or 1:200.

Elevation and Section Drawings

These drawings provide a side and front view of the dropped kerb, showcasing the front elevation, slope gradients, height differences and the transition between pavement and road. These drawings are usually at a scale of 1:50.

Visibility Splays

Visibility splays must be included to ensure clear sightlines for drivers and pedestrians. Drawings should indicate sight distances, splay angles, and potential obstructions, such as walls, fences, or street furniture. These drawings are usually at a scale of 1:500.

Proposed Drainage Arrangements

Local councils require detailed drainage arrangements to prevent surface water from flowing onto the public highway. Drawings should include details of soakaways, permeable surfaces, or drainage channels designed to manage water runoff effectively.

• All drawings must be to scale, typically 1:100 or 1:200, and clearly label the dimensions of the driveway entrance, property boundaries, and other relevant features.
• Annotations should specify materials, adherence to council regulations, and any necessary adjustments to street furniture or drainage systems.

Different councils have specific requirements for dropped kerb applications. But in general, the Design and Technical Requirements comprise the following:

• Minimum Dimensions:

  • A parking space for a vehicle positioned at 90 degrees to the road must be at least 4.8 meters deep and 2.4 meters wide​.
  • If parking in front of a garage, the required depth increases to 6 meters to allow enough room to open the garage door​
  • Some councils allow for a reduced depth of 3.8 meters under a “short frontage policy,” provided the vehicle does not overhang onto the highway
  • Vehicles should enter and exit in one continuous movement to avoid excessive maneuvering across footways​
  • Properties on classified roads (A, B, C roads) must have sufficient space for vehicles to turn within the property so they can enter and exit in a forward gear​
  • Parallel parking may require a space of 9.6 meters wide by 3.5 meters deep and a dual access arrangement (in and out driveway)
  • Applications for parallel parking spaces may be rejected due to excessive movements over footways, which can be hazardous​.

• Visibility Splays:

  • Pedestrian visibility splays of at least 2.4m x 2.4m are required to ensure clear sightlines for safe entry and exit​.
  • For carriageways, visibility distances vary based on speed limits and road classification​.
  • 30mph roads – Minimum 43m visibility
  • 20mph roads – Minimum 33m visibility
  • Higher speed roads – Up to 120m required based on site assessment​.
  • Properties on busy roads may require forward-facing entry and exit to avoid reversing into traffic
  • Any fences, walls, or hedges within these splays must be kept to a maximum height of 0.6m to ensure unobstructed views.​
  • Objects like street furniture should not fully obscure visibility splays, but minor obstructions may be acceptable​.
  • Visibility splays must not be obstructed by parked vehicles. Defined parking bays should be located outside of visibility splays where possible.​
  • The presence of nearby junctions, pedestrian crossings, and bus stops can impact visibility requirements and may lead to application rejections​.

• Drainage Requirements:

  • Dropped kerb applications must include drainage plans to prevent surface water from flowing onto the highway. Local authorities require applicants to incorporate sustainable drainage solutions that comply with Section 163 of the Highways Act 1980​.
  • Surface water must not flow onto the public highway and should be directed into a soakaway, permeable surface, or drainage channel
  • Hardstanding areas over 5m² must be constructed from permeable materials (e.g., permeable block paving, porous asphalt, or gravel on a permeable base)​.
  • Where hard surfaces slope towards the highway, a linear drainage channel must be installed along the threshold, connected to an appropriate soakaway or permeable area​.
  • If soakaways are used, they should be positioned at least 5m from any building foundation to prevent structural issues​.
  • Councils encourage Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) to reduce flood risks and manage runoff efficiently​
  • Applicants may be required to submit a drainage plan as part of the application, demonstrating how runoff will be contained within the property​
  • Council officers conduct site inspections to verify that proper drainage is in place before granting final approval​
  • Applications may be refused if drainage is inadequate, leading to the risk of enforcement action if surface water is found flowing onto the highway​.

• Protection of Street Trees and Green Spaces:

  • Trees in the vicinity of the proposed kerb must be assessed, and removal is generally discouraged unless unavoidable​. Some Councils might agree on its removal and replacement due to quality and life span issues. DKP can provide an assessment if needed to assist with this issue.
  • Grass verges play a key role in drainage and amenity and applications affecting them may be refused​. DKP will ensure these considerations are covered and justified as part of a robust Design and Access Statement to be submitted with the application.

We are highly experienced at producing scaled, high-quality drawings that comply with the  Council’s planning and highway regulations. Contact us today for help.