A dropped kerb, or vehicular access crossing, allows vehicles to cross the pavement from the road to a driveway.
Without a vehicular access crossing, you may damage the kerb or utilities, such as gas or water mains that may be below the surface of the pavement. If you want a new dropped kerb, you must apply and be granted permission by Bury Council.
Step 1: Things to consider before you apply
All requests for a dropped kerb are reviewed on an individual basis by a member of the highways team. However, here are a few things you can check before you apply:
- You must have a driveway (if you are thinking of creating a driveway within your front garden, we recommend you apply for a dropped kerb before you start any work).
- Your driveway must be a minimum length of 5 metres from the where your drive meets the pavement. However, there are circumstances where a greater length is required.
- Your driveway must be at least 3.1 metres wide.
- The gradient (or steepness of your drive) must be less than 10%.
- You must be the owner of the property (or have the written permission of the property owner).
Planning permission may also be required for a dropped kerb. We recommend you get this before you apply for a crossing. Planning permission will be required if:
- Your property is on a classified road
- Your property is in a conservation area.
- Your property is a listed building.
- The application is relating to access for a commercial or apartment building.
Please note
Bury Council considers it important to keep trees. If there is a highway tree in the pavement, the tree would not normally be removed to provide a dropped kerb.
Step 2: Apply
Once you have checked you meet all the required criteria outlined in step 1, you can complete the dropped kerb application form.
- A non-returnable deposit of £80 is required.
- The fee covers the cost of administration and a site assessment by a member of our team.
- Following receipt of an application, we aim to complete assessments within 10 working days.
Step 3: Approval
If we approve your application, we will contact you to advise how much the dropped kerb will be to install.
The overall cost will vary depending on the size and complexity of the required crossing to suit your property.
This type of work is now carried out in batches for efficiency purposes, and we aim to complete two batches of vehicular crossing works per year.
We will advise of a commencement date at least 24 hours before the works are due to start.
Please note:
- Delays may still occur at short notice due to unforeseen circumstances.
- The non-returnable deposit will not be refunded if you decide not to go ahead with the work.