Dropped kerbs for vehicle access

This information is primarily for private single residential drop-kerb applications.

A dropped kerb or a crossover is an area of lowered pavement and kerb which is used to give access to vehicles from a road, across the pavement and onto a driveway or parking area.

A standard dropped kerb construction will include 4 dropped kerbs (3.7m) with a tapered kerb at each side. We try to keep the dropped kerbs within the boundary of your frontage.

What to check before applying

Planning permission

If the road you require access from is on a classified road (A, B, or C) you will need planning permission before applying for the kerb to be lowered. You can check whether a road is classified on the find your nearest map by selecting the relevant road.

Planning permission can take time. We recommend that you get planning permission before completing your application form for vehicle access. See our how to make a planning application page for more information.

Local policy

You must have enough room on your property to park a car with direct access to the highway. This room is needed to prevent vehicles overhanging and obstructing the footway or causing any safety concerns. Full parking depth is needed perpendicular to the property and for the full width of your off-street parking space.

To apply for a dropped kerb for access to a parking space, the depth from your property (the building) to the highway boundary needs to satisfy one of the following requirements:

These are:

• 5.0m where adjacent footway or verge width is equal to or more than 1.5m
• 5.1m where adjacent footway or verge width is less than 1.5m but equal to or more than 1.3m
• 5.2m where adjacent footway or verge width is less than 1.3m
• 6m when the access is in front of a garage to allow for the opening of the garage door

Your driveway should be a minimum of 3m wide to provide a minimum width of 2.4m for parking.

The graphics below show you how to measure your available land for parking.

Footway or verge width is 1.5m or more

Footway or verge width is between 1.3m and 1.5m

Footway or verge width is less than 1.3m

Typical scenarios

The image shows some typical scenarios of what may and may not be approved.

1. Refusal - vehicle overhanging footway due to inadequate depth. The policy dimensions apply - not resident's car dimensions.

2. Refusal - full parking depth is needed perpendicular to the property. Vehicle overhanging footway due to inadequate depth. The policy dimensions apply - not resident's car dimensions.

3. Approval - adequate width and parking depth on paved area.

4. Approval - adequate width and parking depth for wheel strips.

5. Approval - adequate width and parking depth. Outside tree root protection area and tree canopy.

6. Approval - adequate width and parking depth. Inspection chambers are accessible.

7. Approval - adequate width and parking depth provided you have a minimum width of 3m for parking. You may only park alongside your house when the area is within the curtilage of your property. 

We cannot grant consent where there are safety concerns due to:

• poor visibility onto the road network
• the point of access may cause danger
• the construction would make an already difficult local parking situation more difficult
• the gradient could lead to safety issues or damage to the highway or vehicles

Permission will be refused if the vehicle access requested is to be accessed through existing:

• designated parking areas
• garage blocks
• private land

The Highway Authority can only grant permission directly from the public highway and will not consider removing designated parking spaces for private access.