Dropped kerbs and crossovers
A dropped kerb, or vehicle crossing, is when a kerb is lowered and the footway strengthened, to allow vehicles to cross between roads and private properties.
Before you apply, you'll need to verify your eligibility, and that you agree to the terms and conditions of applying for a vehicle crossover.
You can also read about how we process your application, and the steps we take after we receive your application and associated fees.
Eligibility for a dropped kerb
When applying for a dropped kerb, you need to make sure that your eligible.
- your location must meet the criteria
- if you're on a classified road (A, B or C road) you'll need planning permission before you apply
- you need to agree to our terms and conditions
- agree to the installation fee
Even if you have planning permission, you still need permission from Network Resilience and Management (NRM) as Highway Authority. The Authority is responsible for the maintenance of the highway, however if you are building on a private road, you need to seek permission from the landowner of the road.
The proposed crossing:
- does not conflict with any physical features or street furniture (such as a bus shelter or pole, the high raised kerbs where a passenger would enter a bus, benches etc)
- has a minimum of 1 meter clearance for mature trees and 2m for newly planted trees
- has 6m perpendicular depth clearance to the highway (this can be reduced to 5.5m when located away from openings) or a minimum depth of 2.75m and a minimum width of 6m where parallel parking is proposed
- has a minimum 15m distance from a junction
Existing vehicle crossing can be extended, provided they are not already at the maximum lengths and meet the other requirements (please see the terms and conditions).
The easiest way to calculate the width of your current crossing is to count the kerbs stones already used, from the property boundary. A standard single crossing width is 3 centre (flat) kerbs and 2 tapered (riser) kerbs, the maximum width allowed would be 5 centre kerbs and 2 tapered kerbs. When merged with a neighbours crossing the combined permissible width must not exceed 8 centre kerbs and 2 tapered kerbs. There are other factors to take into consideration for example, proximity to junctions, type of road, parking, laybys, bus stops, schools and surrounding street furniture. You must apply, even if there is no physical kerb in your location, as the application is permission to cross a footway and/or verge.
Our minimum parking space dimensions, 6m depth by 2.75m width (with the short side adjacent to the road), are to accommodate for all types of vehicles up to the size of a large van. Although your current vehicle may fit into a smaller space, this may not be large enough for any future vehicles you may obtain or for any future owner’s vehicles.
Some trees may have a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) on them, others may be highway trees. These form an important part of the street scene and will not be removed in order to accommodate a vehicle crossing unless there is an arboricultural reason for doing so.
If there is a lighting column in the way of your proposed crossing, this may be moved, but this is decided upon after a site inspection and consultation with our Street Lighting Team. The applicant must ensure they factor in the additional costs for relocating the light column.
If gates are to be fitted across the entrance to the property, they must not open outwards across the footway or carriageway (Section 153 Highways Act 1980). On A, B and C class roads, the gates should be set back a minimum of 6m from the highway to enable a vehicle to wait whilst they open.
Using a contractor
We do not permit the use of contractors to install vehicle crossovers, the works will be carried out by our internal Highway Delivery Unit (HDU). They will aim to have your crossover installed within eight weeks of final confirmation and payment been received.
Payments and costs
Once your licence has been approved you will be contacted with a full and final cost for the works. In order to arrange a date for installation
- your vehicle crossover application must have been approved
- your must have paid for the vehicle crossover in full
Once the vehicle crossover has been installed this will become part of the authorities’ maintainable assets.
Example costs
- For a standard vehicle crossover with five kerb stones (2 tapered and 3 centres) with a distance of one meter from the kerb to the back off the footway, the Cost would be £1,995.00 plus VAT,
- For a vehicle crossover extension from five to seven kerb stones with a distance of one meter from kerb to back of footway would be £1,596.00 plus VAT
Apply for a vehicle crossover
If you wish to have a new vehicle crossover installed at your property, or make improvements to an existing access point, you'll need permission from us and must complete the relevant application:
Make sure to have the following ready to use with your application
- written consent from the property owner (if you are not the owner)
- a sketch of your plan, including detailed measurements
- a unobstructed photograph of the area from the street
- a copy of any relevant planning permission (if required)
You cannot assume permission will be given. If you have not heard from us within 28 working days, contact us to check the status of your application.
If you and your neighbour are applying for a shared vehicle crossover, both properties need to apply. The fees will be calculated and each resident made aware of the costs. We also allow one property to deal with both applications.
Vehicle crossover application fee
If permission is granted, the £120 application fee will be non-refundable.
If permission is refused, we'll send a refund of £60 back to your payment card, which will be processed within 10 working days of your application refusal email.
Redundant vehicle crossings
Any existing vehicle crossing that becomes redundant following the construction of a new/improved crossing must be removed, with the footway or verge reinstated at the applicant’s cost, this will be charged at £449 per meter square.
If a crossing is no longer performing its function due to a new fence or building preventing a vehicle from being able to park off the highway (to minimum dimensions above), it should be removed at the owner’s cost, this is charged at £449 square meter.
How we process vehicle crossover applications
Providing your received application has been granted preliminary consent, the process should take up to 28 working days, (you will be notified via the webpage if we are experiencing higher than usual volumes). Applications are accepted from the second Monday in January until the last Sunday in November, over the winter months there maybe a delay in installation, as this is weather dependant.
Once we have received your completed application, a Traffic Officer will assess your application carrying out site and necessary checks against the criteria, and a decision will be made to either grant preliminary consent for the vehicle crossing, or to decline the application.
We'll write to you via email outlining our reasons for declining your application, for example but not limited to:
- the proposed site does not meet the criteria
- there is insufficient frontage at proposed site
- poor visibility
- proximity to existing street furniture such as street lights, bus stops, road signs, telecoms cabinets
- proximity to a junction, pedestrian crossing, parking bay, tree or traffic signal
- existing crossover already servicing the property
- non payment of installation fees
As part of the initial inspection process, our Traffic Officers may decide that a vehicle crossing can be approved with some minor changes to the original request, for example, a reduced number of kerbs. The approved layout and design of the crossing will be detailed in our communication with you and sent to our Highways Delivery Team.
Appeals
The highway authority is not bound by precedent and considers each application on its own merits, against this policy. The decision made by the highway authority is final. However, if an applicant is not satisfied with the decision, they can ask for a review of the decision by emailing [email protected], demonstrating where the Authority might have made an error or might have failed to comply with their policy / terms and conditions. This must be submitted within 21 days from the date of the decision notice.
The review will be considered by the Principal Engineer or Traffic and Enforcement Coordinator from the Network Resilience and Management Team. You will receive their decision within 20 working days from the date of your review request.
Following the review, you have the right to contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman. The Ombudsman is not a further appeals body, but can decide whether organisations have followed the right steps to make decisions or take action. You can find out more on the Ombudsman website or telephone the Ombudsman on 0300 061 0614.