Our Guide - Applying for a Dropped Kerb

Apply for a Dropped Kerb with confidence. Learn the process, council requirements, and how Ripple can help with drawings, supporting evidence, and submissions.

The footway in front of your property forms part of the public highway. Altering it to provide a drop kerb requires permission because your changes may affect pedestrians, utilities, drainage, and road safety. Councils assess whether access can be made safe, especially where traffic speeds are higher or on more heavily trafficked roads.

Each highway authority has its own policies and application processes to apply for a dropped kerb. For example:

• City of York Council requires a minimum area to be kept clear for parking and may ask you to prove there’s enough space within your property to turn your car without reversing onto a busy road.

• Birmingham City Council asks applicants to ensure the driveway surface is suitable and to avoid damaging tree roots or utility covers.

• Kent County Council sets out specific visibility and spacing standards and may require a full planning permission if the road is classified as an A, B, or C road.

• Liverpool City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council offer helpful guidance on driveway dimensions, safety, and surface requirements.

What Will the Council Consider?

Your application will be reviewed on the basis of:

• The width and surface quality of your driveway

• Whether a vehicle can be parked entirely off the footway

• The road classification (some busier roads require more detailed checks)

• Whether you can turn your car around within your property to avoid reversing onto a main road

• Visibility when entering and exiting your driveway

• Existing speeds and flows of traffic, especially in higher-risk areas

• Proximity to junctions, bends, and other access points

• The impact on nearby trees, utilities, or footways

In some cases, particularly on busier roads or in constrained areas, you may need to provide supporting evidence such as traffic speed surveys, flow data, or a review of local road safety records to prove that a safe access can be achieved.

How Ripple Can Help

At Ripple, we support householders through the dropped kerb application process, particularly in those cases where more technical evidence is needed to strengthen your case. We can help you prepare and submit clear, accurate plans, provide visibility assessments, or review traffic speeds and flows where safety concerns might arise.

By engaging with us early, we can review your site, advise on any design issues, and improve the credibility of your application. This helps to avoid rejections or delays.

Whether you simply need help preparing drawings, or require more detailed support for your application, we’re here to help.

Get in touch with us today to discuss your project and find out how Ripple can support your dropped kerb application.