Gardenscape
07535 661664

Getting vehicle access to a new driveway

Dropped Kerbs and Vehicle Crossovers

A new driveway is only useful if you can legally drive onto it. Crossing a footway without an approved dropped kerb is an offence and can damage services buried under the path.

The application is separate from the driveway itself and is worth starting early.

Need this sorted?

Need block paving? Get a quote from Gardenscape.

Get a quote Call 07535 661664
Block Paving work by Gardenscape in Essex

The rules before you pave in Essex

Before a new driveway is used for parking, you need a dropped kerb, and in Essex that is arranged through the local highway authority rather than your landscaper. Driving over a raised kerb and footway without one is not permitted and can damage the pavement.

Apply before you commit to a driveway layout, because the approved position and width of the crossing decides where the cars can go. Separately, a new or replaced front driveway over five square metres needs to be permeable or drain to a lawn or border to avoid needing planning permission, which is one reason resin bound and permeable paving are popular choices.

How the process works

Vehicle crossovers are approved by the highway authority — in most of our area, Essex County Council or the relevant unitary authority such as Southend-on-Sea City Council. You apply, they assess visibility, sightlines, services and drainage, and if approved the works are carried out by an approved contractor.

Fees and timescales vary by authority, so check current requirements directly with yours.

Block Paving

  • Hard-wearing surfaces for driveways, paths and patios
  • A choice of colours and laying patterns
  • Installed with the correct foundations
See Block Paving Get a quote

What can affect approval

Proximity to junctions and crossings, street furniture such as lamp columns and trees, insufficient depth on the property to park clear of the footway, and protected verges are all common reasons an application is refused or modified.

Some authorities require a minimum parking depth from the back of the footway.

Coordinating with the driveway build

We design the driveway levels to meet the crossover cleanly, with permeable surfacing or drainage so run-off does not discharge onto the highway.

Sequencing matters: knowing where the crossing will land lets us set the drive levels and edge details right first time.

Prepare your council enquiry before committing

Begin with the highway authority responsible for the road outside your home, which may differ from the council handling other local services. Use its current vehicle crossover guidance to establish the application route and required information. Do not treat a neighbour’s older crossing as evidence that the same arrangement will be accepted today.

Prepare a clear sketch showing your boundary, proposed parking area and intended entrance. Record nearby trees, utility covers and street furniture without assuming they can be moved. Photographs can help explain the frontage, but the authority decides what supporting documents or site assessment it requires. Keep copies of correspondence so the driveway layout can follow the actual conditions attached to approval.

If you rent the property or share access, establish whose agreement is needed before applying. Highway approval does not settle ownership questions or give permission to alter land belonging to somebody else.

Keep dropped kerb costs separate from driveway costs

Budget for the permission process and the physical crossing separately from work inside your boundary. Depending on the authority’s procedure, there may be application or assessment charges as well as construction costs. Ask when payments become due and whether any charge is refundable if the proposal cannot proceed.

The crossing specification, width and existing highway features can affect the construction scope. Utility equipment or street furniture may introduce further checks and costs; moving them is not something to assume within an ordinary driveway quote. Request the authority’s current charging information and an explanation of exclusions rather than relying on a general online average.

Use the approval to coordinate the driveway

Before booking construction, establish who is authorised to undertake the highway work and how it will be scheduled. Council approval for access does not appoint your driveway installer to carry out the crossover. Share the approved drawing and any conditions when discussing the work within your property.

Agree responsibility for the junction between the two areas, including finished levels and drainage details. If the authority changes the entrance position, revisit the parking layout before paving begins. Keeping the approval, crossing works and private driveway as distinct parts of the project makes responsibilities clearer and reduces the risk of committing to a layout that cannot be used.

Your questions answered

Does a driveway quote include council application charges?

Do not assume so. Ask which charges are included and which remain payable separately to the authority or crossover contractor.

Can I widen an existing dropped kerb without another enquiry?

Check with the highway authority first. An existing crossing does not automatically authorise widening or changes to its layout.

Want a professional to handle it?

Planning off-street parking?

Free and no obligation — tell us about your project.

Free and no obligation · Or call 07535 661664

Related services

Covering Essex

Frequently asked questions

Can you do the dropped kerb?

The crossing itself must be carried out under the highway authority's approval process; we build the driveway to meet it.

Do I need planning permission as well?

Usually not for the driveway if it is permeable, but crossing a classified road can require permission.

How long does approval take?

It varies by authority — check current timescales with yours before booking works.

Related reading

Driveway Too Small for Two Cars? Your OptionsSinking Shed Base and Rotting Shed FloorsOverlooked Garden: Practical Privacy SolutionsReplacing a Driveway vs Repairing It

Planning off-street parking?

We'll design the driveway around your crossover requirements.

Get a driveway quote Call 07535 661664