Dropped kerbs are primarily used by people who need to transfer from their mobility scooter or wheelchair onto the pavement and beyond.
They were designed with disabled drivers in mind, although they are now allowed at every property in the UK with authorization from the local council.
It’s not just wheelchair users that can benefit either; anyone requiring more room when entering or exiting their vehicle will need to have an upgraded driveway or dropped kerb.
On the other hand, a driveway is a useful necessity if you have a garage for your car, as it provides a place to pull in and turn around.
But what about those people who only use the garage once a week or less?
Some houses don’t even have a driveway, but can you still get a dropped kerb? Well, let’s find out in this article.
1. Properties Eligible for Dropped Kerb Installation without a Driveway
If there has been no previous access to vehicular traffic from the public highway, then the council will not allow this for just any property.
Usually, they can be reasonably lenient with properties that do not fit into the usual categories of ‘home’ such as large commercial buildings, etc. Still, without knowing all of their regulations, it would be unwise to assume anything.
If you live on an estate where most houses have driveways, you will not be allowed to block off the public highway.
You can prove that there has been previous vehicular access by providing examples of where others living on the estate have had these arrangements approved.
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2. The Cost of Installing a Dropped Kerb
The cost for installing a dropped kerb is likely to stand at around £650, but this may vary depending on your location.
This price includes three days of labor and VAT and factoring in some additional time for working with statutory bodies such as utility companies, etc., who need to do their bit too.
You must also remember that you will need planning permission first if you apply for a dropped kerb, so don’t forget to include this in your total budget.
A standard dropped kerb installation will probably be subject to an application fee of around £175.
3. The Process Of Obtaining a Dropped Kerb without a Driveway
As already mentioned, the council will need evidence that there is a need for vehicular access from your property. This can make your planning permission more complicated, so it’s best to start this process early on in the day.
Once you have all of these elements in place, you should still allow yourself plenty of time.
The average time scale for dropped kerb applications is between 6-8 weeks, but this does depend on how busy the council is at any given moment.
You’ll also want to mention if you have a deadline or particular date in mind before they agree to let you know when they think they may be able to get round to starting work on it.
They don’t want to let you down.
You may find that your planning permission will need to include all of this information, so it’s worth looking up the local council’s website before you start too.
You can also contact them directly for more information on their policy and procedures.
Once your application has been approved, don’t forget to give the traffic authority 21 days’ notice of when you are starting work; otherwise, they won’t be able to stop anything happening if they want to.
The day after the 21 days is when the works are officially due to start but expect them anytime during those 21 days.
The work starts with an assessment of what is currently there in terms of road markings etc.; Then, new kerb lines are laid out, measured, and recorded.
You need to make sure that you can get into the road easily, but don’t go too far; otherwise, the council won’t allow it.
Once approved and any necessary utility works have been carried out (which may incur additional charges), your new dropped kerb will be ready to open.
Having a dropped kerb is also a selling point which can help with a quick sale.
In Summary
If you want a dropped kerb without a driveway, contact councils about regulations in your area first. Include planning permission in your budget; this can take around 6-8 weeks, depending on how busy they are at different times of the year.
Give the traffic authority 21 days’ notice if you’re beginning work on it.
So basically, yes, you can get one, but many rules come with it. You need to know the regulations of your area before you set out because there might be no dropped kerbs without driveways allowed in some areas.
If you have one approved, then you have to give 21 days’ notice, but they are not guaranteed to arrive on any particular day within that period.
The cost of getting a dropped kerb will vary depending on how tricky it is to install at your address (the council will decide whether it needs planning permission) and where you live.
It’s best to call up or email your local council for more information about their processes. Look on their website for transport or something similar under services.
Also, note that if you’re applying for planning permission, there is a fee that goes with most applications.
Suppose you’re lucky enough to be installing a new property with an attached driveway.
In that case, you may not need to worry about some of these issues as they will either have been considered from the offset by your developer or architect, but if you already have a home with no driveways whatsoever, why would you want one now?
If it’s just another place for neighbors to park their car, then maybe using your current garden space is a better idea after all.
While it can help improve access for disabled people across the country, please consider what benefits the installation of such a feature has for you before committing yourself.
Just because your neighbors have a driveway doesn’t mean you should as well.
Remember that unless you are building a house from scratch and creating the design yourself, nobody knows what is best for you and your family better than you do!
Very interesting article, especially as it’s what we do as well.