Dropped kerbs for vehicle access

Dropped kerbs are sections of pavement with a lowered kerb, allowing drivers access to a private driveway.

When making alterations to your property you may need to have the kerb lowered to enable you to legally drive across the pathway.

Before constructing a dropped kerb you will first need to find out if the road is a trunk (major) or a classified road.

GeoPlace has published a map of streets that includes road classification information from the National Street Gazetteer. This can be found on the Find My Street website.

Enquiries relating to highway adoption status and extent should be directed to the Leicestershire County Council Highways Record Enquiries team on hre@leics.gov.uk.

Will I need planning permission?

You will need to apply for planning permission:

• If the kerb to be dropped is on a trunk or a classified road (class A, B and C roads).
• If any work you intend to carry out in connection with the dropped kerb is not ‘permitted development’. 
• If the kerb to be dropped is not onto a trunk or a classified road, but is the only work you are carrying out.

You will not have to apply for planning permission:

• If the kerb to be dropped is not on a trunk or a classified road, and any work you intend to carry out in connection with the dropped kerb is permitted development (so does not require planning permission). Examples include: installing a porous hardstanding, removing a boundary wall, or building a freestanding garage or car port. Our self assessment forms provide further guidance.

Please be aware that consent for constructing a dropped kerb will always be required from Leicestershire County Council’s Highways Department (even when planning permission is not required).

Further details are available on Leicestershire County Council's vehicle access webpage or you can contact Leicestershire County Council via their online form.