How to get a dropped kerb

To get a dropped kerb you apply to the highway authority for your road, which is your council's highways team almost everywhere in the West Midlands, and Staffordshire County Council in Lichfield and Tamworth. The council checks whether your property is suitable, and if it approves, the kerb is lowered and the pavement strengthened by the council or a contractor it allows. You cannot simply hire any driveway firm to do it, and driving over a full-height kerb without a crossing is an offence and can damage pipes and cables under the footway.

The construction usually costs £1,200–£2,500, plus the council's application and inspection fees. Apply before you commit to a new driveway: if the council says no, a front parking space may be no use.

This guide is general information. Council rules and fees change often, so check the current position with your council before applying.

What councils look for

Every authority has its own policy, but most check the same things:

• Enough depth for a car. The parking space must be deep enough that a parked car does not overhang the pavement. Many councils ask for about 4.8m to 6m from the back of the footway to the house or bay window, measured at right angles.
• A proper hard surface behind the kerb. Most councils require the parking area to be built, or to be built at the same time, and some require it to meet the permeable paving rule. See the 5m² rule.
• Road safety and visibility. Distance from junctions, bends, traffic lights, crossings and bus stops, and whether drivers can see pedestrians as they reverse out.
• Obstructions. Lamp posts, signs, telecoms cabinets, verge planting and utility covers. Moving them is sometimes possible, at your cost.
• Grass verges. A crossing over a verge usually costs more and some councils are stricter about them.
• Classified roads. A new vehicle access onto an A, B or classified C road usually needs planning permission as well as highway consent.
• Flats, listed buildings and conservation areas may also need planning permission. See do I need planning permission for a driveway?

Steps

1. Find your highway authority. In Birmingham, Solihull, Walsall, Wolverhampton, Dudley and Coventry it is the city or borough council. In Lichfield and Tamworth it is Staffordshire County Council, not the district or borough council.
2. Read the council's dropped kerb policy. Check the minimum depth, the surface requirements and whether your road is classified.
3. Measure the front garden. Measure from the back of the pavement to the house at right angles, and the width you need. Our guide on how to measure your driveway explains how.
4. Check planning needs. Flats, listed buildings, classified roads and Article 4 areas can need planning permission. Get that first if so.
5. Apply and pay the application fee. Most councils take applications online. The fee is usually non-refundable even if you are refused.
6. Site assessment. A highways officer visits to check depth, visibility, obstructions and underground services.
7. Get the decision and a quote or licence. Depending on the council, you either receive a quote for the council's contractor to do the work, or a licence allowing a council-accredited contractor to do it.
8. Book the work. The installer lowers the kerbs, digs out and rebuilds the footway to take vehicle loads, and resurfaces it. Allow for utility checks and any traffic management.
9. Build or finish your driveway. Coordinate the two jobs so the levels match. A driveway specialist can lay the drive while the crossing is arranged.
10. Keep the paperwork. The approval and completion documents are useful when you sell.

Council by council overview

Rules below are a starting point. Confirm the current process and fees with each council.

Birmingham City Council

Applications go to the council's highways team. Birmingham's roads are maintained under a long-term highways contract, and construction of vehicle crossings is generally carried out by the council's highways contractor or by the route set out in its guidance.

Solihull Council

Solihull processes applications through its highways team with an assessment and quote.

Walsall Council

Walsall assesses applications and has a process for the work to be done by the council or a contractor it accepts.

City of Wolverhampton Council

Wolverhampton requires an application and assessment before any crossing is built.

Dudley Council

Dudley, which covers Stourbridge, Halesowen and Brierley Hill, requires highways approval before a crossing is built.

Coventry City Council

Coventry requires an application to its highways team.

Staffordshire County Council (Lichfield and Tamworth)

Staffordshire is the highway authority for Lichfield District and Tamworth. Its vehicle crossing process is run by the county, not the district councils, and it has historically allowed accredited private contractors to carry out the work under licence.

What it costs

Prices are supply and fit, waste included, indicative for the West Midlands. Crossings over wide verges, with utility diversions or on busy roads cost more. The dropped kerb cost guide has the detail, and our dropped kerbs page explains what the work involves.

Because every dropped kerb depends on the council's decision and the site, we always arrange a free site visit rather than promising a range. We pass your enquiry to one local specialist who can explain the process for your council and quote for the driveway behind it, whether that is block paving, resin or tarmac.