A dropped kerb is a lowered section of pavement that allows vehicle access to a private driveway. It is a highways consent rather than a pure planning application, and London councils vary in their rules.
Dropped kerbs are not covered by permitted development rights. They require a crossover/vehicle crossing application to the highways authority and, if the front garden exceeds 5m², a paving planning application alongside.
London is different. Conservation area coverage, Article 4 directions and listed buildings are much more common in London than the national average, and any of them can remove the PD route. Use the address-level checker before you assume PD applies.
These are the national permitted development limits set by Schedule 2 of the GPDO. If your scheme stays within every rule and no local constraint removes PD, you will not need planning permission — but you may still want a Lawful Development Certificate to prove it.
| # | Rule |
|---|---|
| 1 | Vehicle crossover application required to the borough highways team. |
| 2 | If the front garden is paved and exceeds 5m², a planning application for the hardstanding is also required (unless permeable materials are used). |
| 3 | Sightlines from the driveway must meet the council's highways standards. |
| 4 | Trees on the highway cannot be removed to create the crossover in most boroughs. |
| 5 | Most boroughs require the applicant to pay for the crossover construction. |
These are the common reasons a dropped kerb loses the permitted development route in London and needs a full householder application instead.
Planning outcomes vary significantly by borough. Conservation area coverage is the single biggest driver — boroughs with heavy CA coverage tend to see more dropped kerb proposals need a full application.
Contact the council's highways team to confirm whether a crossover is feasible at your address.
Decide on paving material and area. Permeable materials or paving under 5m² avoid the need for planning permission.
Apply via the council's online crossovers service with plans and photos.
The council's contractor constructs the crossover. Cost is paid up-front.
London range; varies with specification and site.
Householder application fee (2026). LDC fee is £129.
Statutory target for householder applications.
A dropped kerb itself is not a planning matter — it requires a vehicle crossover application to the council's highways team. However, if you are also paving the front garden, and the paved area exceeds 5m² with non-permeable materials, a planning application is needed.
Costs vary by borough but typically range from £1,200 to £4,000. The application fee is usually £100–£300 and the construction cost (paid to the council's contractor) is between £1,000 and £3,500 depending on street conditions.
Common refusal reasons include trees on the highway that cannot be removed, insufficient sightlines, inadequate driveway width, the street being a red route or bus route, or the property being on a sharp corner.
Yes, provided the paved area is under 5m² OR uses permeable materials (e.g. gravel, block paving with permeable joints, or permeable concrete). Larger non-permeable paved areas need a full householder application.
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