Hinchliffe Surfacing
Permissions

Dropped kerbs: what the council approves and what it doesn't

A new vehicle access starts with the highway authority’s approval. Here is what to consider when planning a dropped kerb alongside your driveway.

Who applies

You apply to the highway authority for permission to drop the kerb. Most of the area we work in is Cheshire East; Northwich and the west of the county are Cheshire West and Chester. We can explain what they usually ask for, but the application and the decision are the council's.

What the council usually looks at

  • Visibility to and from the property, and whether the access is safe to use.
  • Gas and other services running under the verge — these can rule out a drop at a particular point.
  • The width needed and the type of vehicle using the access.
  • Whether the work would affect parking, the pavement or an existing bay.

What we do

We build the dropped kerb as part of the driveway so the levels, falls and drainage at the boundary work as one thing, rather than two separate jobs that meet badly. We look at the pavement, the verge and the drainage at your site assessment and include the kerb in your written proposal.

Timing

Council decisions take time and can come back with conditions. If your programme depends on the kerb, start the application early — we would rather plan around an approval than dig in front of a refusal.

Talk it through with Dan

Every property deserves its own plan. Arrange a site assessment to explore the options, or speak to Dan about your questions first.

CallBook Assessment