Dropped Kerbs and Driveways: Criteria and Guidance

Before applying for a new dropped kerb and driveway, it is essential to check your proposal against the key criteria that local highway authorities use when assessing applications. Understanding these requirements early in the process will help you determine whether your project is feasible, avoid costly mistakes, and give your application the best possible chance of approval.

1. Sufficient Space for Parking

One of the most fundamental requirements for a dropped kerb application is that the property must have adequate space to park a vehicle entirely off the public highway. Most councils require a minimum parking space depth of 4.8 metres, measured from the back edge of the footway to the front wall of the property. This ensures that a standard family car can be parked without any part of the vehicle overhanging the pavement, which would obstruct pedestrians and wheelchair users.

Where the parking space is positioned directly in front of a garage, the minimum depth increases to 6 metres. This additional space allows the garage door to be opened and closed freely while a vehicle is parked on the driveway. The parking area must be positioned at a right angle to the highway, and drivers must be able to enter and exit the driveway in a single movement without needing to reverse onto or off the road multiple times. This single-movement requirement is a key highway safety consideration and is strictly enforced by most local authorities.

2. Width and Access Requirements

The minimum width for a standard single vehicle crossing is 2.4 metres. This provides sufficient clearance for a car to pass comfortably between the upstand kerbs on either side of the crossover. For wider crossovers designed to serve two vehicles side by side, the minimum width typically increases to between 4.2 and 4.8 metres, depending on the specific requirements of your local council.

The access route between the highway and the parking space must be free from obstructions. Highway authorities will check that the proposed crossing is not impeded by existing features such as mature trees, street furniture, projecting bay windows, or boundary walls that restrict the clear width of the access. If any such obstructions are present, they may need to be removed or relocated before the application can be approved, and the cost of doing so typically falls to the applicant.

3. Visibility and Safety Standards

Visibility splays are one of the most important safety criteria assessed during a dropped kerb application. A driver leaving a property must have clear sightlines in both directions along the footway and carriageway to ensure they can see approaching pedestrians, cyclists, and vehicles in sufficient time to stop or give way safely.

For footway visibility, the standard requirement is a minimum setback of 2.0 metres from the back edge of the footway. From this point, the driver must have an unobstructed view along the pavement in both directions. No objects above 0.6 metres in height should be present within the visibility splay area, including walls, fences, hedges, or parked vehicles.

For carriageway visibility, the minimum setback is 2.4 metres from the nearside edge of the carriageway. The required sightline distances along the road depend on the speed limit:

• 20 mph roads: 25 metres in each direction
• 30 mph roads: 43 metres in each direction
• 40 mph roads: up to 120 metres in each direction

These distances are calculated to give a driver sufficient time to observe approaching traffic and make a safe judgement about when to enter or exit the highway. Applications that cannot demonstrate adequate visibility splays are routinely refused on highway safety grounds.

4. Proximity to Road Junctions

The location of a proposed dropped kerb relative to nearby road junctions is a critical safety factor. On minor residential roads, a minimum separation distance of 10 metres is typically required between the edge of the vehicle crossing and the nearest junction. For major roads or busier junctions, this distance increases to 15–20 metres to ensure that vehicles entering or leaving the driveway do not conflict with turning traffic at the junction.

For corner properties, the highway authority will usually require the vehicle crossing to be positioned on the minor road rather than the major road, as this reduces the risk to traffic on the busier route. Applications for dropped kerbs in close proximity to junctions are among the most commonly refused, so it is important to measure these distances accurately and consider alternative positions for the crossing before submitting your application.

5. Drainage Compliance

Adequate drainage must be provided entirely within the property boundaries. Surface water from the driveway must not be allowed to discharge onto the public highway, footway, or neighbouring land. This is both a planning requirement and a condition of the dropped kerb licence issued by the highway authority.

If the driveway slopes towards the road, the council may require the installation of a channel drain or gulley at the property boundary to intercept water run-off before it reaches the pavement. Permeable driveway surfaces such as gravel, permeable block paving, or resin-bound surfacing can help satisfy drainage requirements by allowing rainwater to soak into the ground naturally. Where impermeable materials are used, a formal drainage system including soakaways or attenuation tanks may be necessary.

6. Street Furniture and Utility Considerations

The position of existing street furniture and underground utilities can significantly affect where a dropped kerb can be installed and the overall cost of the project. Lamp posts and street lighting columns must be a minimum of 1.5 metres from the edge of the proposed crossover. If a lamp post falls within this zone, it may need to be relocated at the applicant’s expense, which can add several hundred pounds to the project cost.

Similarly, manholes, inspection chambers, utility access covers, and underground services such as gas, water, electricity, and telecommunications cables may all influence the positioning of the crossing. If utility infrastructure needs to be raised, lowered, protected, or diverted, the applicant is responsible for arranging and funding these works through the relevant utility company. These costs should be factored into your budget at the earliest stage of planning.

7. Tree Proximity

Trees within the highway verge or footway can present a significant obstacle to a dropped kerb application. If a tree needs to be removed or significantly pruned to accommodate the vehicle crossing, the highway authority and the council’s tree officer will need to assess the proposal. Trees may be protected by a Tree Preservation Order (TPO), which requires separate consent before any work can be carried out.

Where removal is permitted, the council may require the applicant to fund a replacement tree planted in a suitable alternative location, along with its ongoing maintenance for a specified period. The costs associated with tree replacement can reach £3,000 or more, depending on the species, size, and planting requirements. Some councils will refuse a dropped kerb application outright if it requires the removal of a mature, healthy, or ecologically significant tree.

8. Restrictions on Multiple Access Points

Applications for multiple dropped kerbs serving a single residential property are generally discouraged by highway authorities. Each additional vehicle crossing increases the number of potential conflict points between vehicles and pedestrians on the footway, and reduces the amount of on-street parking available for other residents.

In most cases, a single, appropriately sized crossing is the preferred solution. If you believe there is a genuine operational need for a second access point — for example, to create a circular driveway on a larger property — it is advisable to discuss this with your local highway authority before submitting a formal application. They may require additional justification and evidence that the second crossing will not compromise pedestrian safety or parking capacity.

9. Compliance with Classified Road and Conservation Area Rules

Properties located on classified roads (A, B, or C roads) are subject to additional requirements. In these cases, planning permission is required in addition to the standard dropped kerb licence from the highway authority. The planning application will be assessed on highway safety grounds, including the impact of the proposed access on traffic flow, speed, and visibility on the classified road.

In conservation areas, further considerations apply to protect the character and appearance of the streetscape. The council may impose conditions on the materials used for the crossover and driveway, the design of any boundary treatments, and the landscaping of the front garden. Listed buildings and their curtilage are also subject to special controls, and listed building consent may be required in addition to planning permission.

Planning Application and Installation Process

When a planning application is required for a dropped kerb, the submission must include a comprehensive set of documents. Scaled drawings are essential, including a location plan, a block plan showing the proposed crossover in relation to the property and highway, and detailed cross-sections of the driveway construction. Many councils also require visibility splay diagrams and, where relevant, an impact assessment addressing highway safety, drainage, and the effect on neighbouring properties.

Application fees are payable to the local planning authority and vary depending on the type and scale of the proposal. Once planning permission has been granted, a separate dropped kerb licence must be obtained from the highway authority under Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980. The physical construction work must be carried out by the council’s own workforce or by an approved contractor authorised to work on the public highway. A Section 50 permit may also be required if the works involve breaking open or excavating the highway surface.

Following completion, the council will typically carry out an inspection to confirm that the crossover has been constructed to the required standard and specification before the licence is formally signed off.

Navigating these criteria and the application process can be complex, with requirements varying significantly between local authorities. At DKP, our team of specialists has extensive experience in preparing and submitting dropped kerb applications across the UK. We handle everything from the initial feasibility assessment through to planning drawings, application submission, and liaison with the highway authority — giving you the best possible chance of a smooth and successful outcome. Contact us for an appraisal of your project.