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 submitting your application form for the dropped kerb. The charge for the dropped kerb application could be wasted if planning permission is not granted.
Read our how to make a planning application page for more information.
Criteria for a dropped kerb
You must have enough land available on your property to construct a private driveway and have direct access to the highway.
The private driveway needs to be:
- long enough to prevent vehicles overhanging and obstructing the footway or the highway verge causing any safety concerns
- wide enough to allow you to open your vehicle doors on both sides
The width of your private driveway will need to be a minimum of 3 meters for its full depth. This allows sufficient space to park the vehicle, open the doors fully and walk around the vehicle.
The depth of your driveway needs to meet one of the following driveway lengths:
- 5 meters where adjacent footway or verge width is equal to or more than 1.5 meters (diagram 1)
- 5.1 meters where adjacent footway or verge width is between 1.3 meters and 1.5 meters (diagram 2)
- 5.2 meters where adjacent footway or verge width is less than 1.3 meters (diagram 3)
- 5.5 meters where the driveway is directly in front of your property door to allow access to the door (diagram 4)
- 6 meters when the driveway is in front of a garage to allow for the opening of the garage door (diagram 5)
All the above driveway depths are needed perpendicular (at a 90 degree angle) to the road.
Please be advised that the above requirements still apply to those who wish to extend an existing dropped kerb.
A private driveway of 5 meters by 3 meters minimum must be provided, irrespective of the size of your current vehicle.
We base our decision on the existing criteria and cannot consider your vehicle, as that may change in the future.
Dropped kerbs for electric vehicles must comply with all the same guidance and rules as for any other type of vehicle.
The diagrams below show you how to measure your available land and check you have room for your driveway.
Diagram 1: Footway or verge width is 1.5 meters or more
| Area | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Footway or verge width | 1.5 meters or more |
| Width of driveway | 3 meters or more |
| Depth of driveway | 5 meters minimum |
Diagram 2: Footway or verge width is between 1.3 meters and 1.5 meters
| Area | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Footway or verge width | Between 1.3 meters and 1.5 meters |
| Width of driveway | 3 meters or more |
| Depth of driveway | 5.1 meters minimum |
Diagram 3: Footway or verge width is less than 1.3 meters
| Area | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Footway or verge width | Less than 1.3 meters |
| Width of driveway | 3 meters or more |
| Depth of driveway | 5.2 meters minimum |
Diagram 4: Footway or verge width is minimum of 5.5 meters
| Area | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Footway or verge width | Any width |
| Width of driveway | 3 meters or more |
| Depth of driveway | 5.5 meters in front of door |
Diagram 5: Driveway in front of garage is minimum of 6 meters
| Area | Dimension |
|---|---|
| Footway or verge width | Any width |
| Width of driveway | 3 meters or more |
| Depth of driveway | 6 meters in front of garage |
In the above diagrams, it is assumed that all approved driveways meet the local criteria as mentioned above.
Typical scenarios
The image shows some typical scenarios of what may and may not be approved.
- Refusal issued - there is insufficient room on the property for a full driveway - 5m x 3m driveway.
- Refusal of extension - there is not sufficient depth for full driveway behind proposed extension of dropped kerb.
- Refusal - vehicle overhanging footway due to inadequate depth. The criteria dimensions apply - not resident's car dimensions.
- Refusal - full parking depth is needed perpendicular (at a 90 degree angle) to the highway. Vehicle would overhang the footway if parked, which may happen once the driveway is constructed.
- Refusal - sufficient width and parking depth is available but the dropped kerb or driveway construction would impact a tree root protection area (see impact on trees section).
- Approval - adequate width and parking depth for wheel strips and driveway.
- Approval - adequate width and parking depth. Outside tree root protection area and tree canopy.
- Approval - adequate width and parking depth provided you have a minimum width of 3 meters for parking. You may only park alongside your house when the area is within the curtilage of your property.
In the above diagrams, it is assumed that all approved driveways meet the local criteria as mentioned above.
Other considerations
We cannot grant consent where there are concerns due to:
Poor visibility onto the highway
Before applying you will need to consider the visibility onto the footway and carriageway that you will have when using the dropped kerb. For example, are there bushes or fences in the way that will limit your visibility and prevent you from using the driveway safely?
If this is the case you may want to consider removing these obstacles prior to an application as the council will not be able to do so for you and it will be your responsibility to enter the carriageway safely.
If your neighbour's garden has a large hedge or high fence that impacts your visibility, you should talk to them before making an application. The council has no powers to make a neighbour remove anything from their land for the benefit of your application.
Local parking situation
Dropping the kerb would make an already pressurised local parking situation more difficult by removing more on-street parking than it provides as off-street parking.
Gradient of the potential driveway
The gradient of the potential driveway being too steep, leading to safety issues or damage to the highway or vehicles by scraping the underside of the car on the carriageway.
Designated parking spaces
Dropped kerbs that would require access from designated parking areas - such as parking bays.
The Highway Authority can only grant permission directly from the carriageway and will not consider removing designated parking spaces for private access.
We will also not consider double yellow lines on the highway, which would remove parking for all so that a private driveway can be built. You need to consider your ability to manoeuvre on and off your driveway before making your application.
Crossing private land
A requirement to cross private land not within your ownership or adopted as the public highway, unless you can provide evidence of a right to cross this land in perpetuity.
Getting help
We do not offer a pre-application design service. However if you need clarification on any of these points, email highways.transport@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.
When you email us, add 'Dropped kerb application advice [enter first line of your address]' as your subject header.