Vehicle access - kerbs

About vehicle crossings

A vehicle crossing can be made by lowering an area of pavement and kerb to create a dropped kerb which gives access to vehicles from a road across a grass verge or a footway and onto a driveway or parking area.

A vehicle crossing needs to be built to a higher specification than a normal footway. This is because it has to allow for vehicles to drive over footways without causing damage to service cables and mains buried underneath.

It is against the law to drive over a public footway without using an authorised vehicle crossing, as damage will be caused to the footway or services underneath. 

Can I build a dropped kerb for my property? 

Property owners don’t have an automatic right to build a vehicle crossing onto the highway and, in some cases, we could refuse an application for one if the crossing is in an unsafe position such as:

•  on a junction
•  on the brow of a hill
•  at a bus stop
•  where it would be difficult to be seen
•  for planning reasons.

Building and / or using a vehicle crossing does not give the property owner any particular rights except to drive across the highway to get access to their property.

Owners of the property would need planning permission for the hard surface of any area that is more than five square metres between the front of their property and the highway.

For more advice, visit the Communities and Local Government website. 

We will take action where a vehicle crossing has been installed at a property illegally and may instruct that the highway is returned to its former condition. This type of instruction would be given to the owner of the property - whether or not this is the same persons who carried out the work.

How do I apply for a dropped kerb?

There are two options for applying to construct a vehicle crossing:

Option 1

Get a quote from a private contractor, with £5 million of Public Liability Insurance - you will need to supply a copy of the insurance with your application.

Make sure the contractor and their workers are suitably qualified and accredited with the Street Works Qualification Register (SWQR) to work on the highway - you will need to provide copies of the supervisors' and operatives' accreditation with your application.

To apply, please complete the application pack and return it to us.

There is also a £122 non-refundable fee to process the application. Cheques are made payable to Derby City Council.

If we give permission for a vehicle crossing to be constructed, we will inspect and approve all works to make sure they meet to specification.

Serve notice to the public utilities, such as gas, water, electricity, telephone and cable communications companies. Please provide colour copies with the application.

The applicant is responsible for:

•  guaranteeing the works for a two year maintenance period
•  any damage to the highway or utility equipment
•  any claims due to an incident caused by the works.

At the end of the guarantee period, the maintenance of the crossing goes back to us but, at all times, the crossing remains part of the public highway.

Option 2

We can give you a quote (this is valid for six weeks) to construct the vehicle crossing. 

• We will serve notice to the public utilities. 
• We will guarantee the works for the two year maintenance period.  
• Once we have received payment we will ask our contractors to programme in the work.
• From receiving payment to completion of the construction, it will take about 14 weeks.

For all enquiries about applying for permission to construct a vehicle crossing enquire online or telephone 0333 2006 981.

You can find out more about the law on vehicle crossings on the highway by viewing Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980.

Do I need planning permission to build a vehicle crossing outside my home? 

In some cases you may need to apply for planning permission before creating a new vehicle crossing. For dwellings where the new crossing will be located on a Classified Road (A, B or C roads) you must submit a planning application for this access in advance. A planning application will take up to eight weeks to process so you should factor this into your plans.

How do I submit a planning application?

Planning applications can be submitted online using Planning Portal you can also download paper application forms from the same site. You will need to submit a ‘Householder’ application for planning permission.

Please read all the advice carefully as to what plans and information you need to submit with any planning application. Currently (January 2018) the fee for this type of application is £206.

Do I need planning permission to hard surface my front garden?

Planning legislation also covers the hard surfacing of front gardens and in some case you may need to apply for planning permission for this too. You can find our more information from the Planning Portal.

A useful guide was also published by the government on the hard surfacing of front gardens.

To avoid having to apply for planning permission for hard surfacing, residents must ensure any new driveways are constructed in accordance with the advice in the government guide.

Where can I get more information and advice? 

For all enquiries, including the application for and construction of a vehicle crossing, please contact us online.

For advice on whether your property is located on a Classified Road and any questions relating to the submission of a planning application please email developmentcontrol@derby.gov.uk.