Do I Need Planning Permission For Dropped Kerb?

A dropped kerb is not only a convenient means to park one’s vehicle away from the street but also being demanded by law in certain cases. Through this blog post, we aim to understand the laws regarding the building of a dropped kerb, as well as the permissions and generic costs involved. We will also discuss other changes to one’s property where Planning Permission would need to get involved as well as conditions for permitted development.

Do I Need Planning Permission For Dropped Kerb?

Whether or not you need Planning Permission for a dropped kerb depends on the type of road that your house is adjacent to.

You will not need Planning Permission in case the road is listed as unclassified, it is a private road or a private street. However, in the case of either of the following situations, you will need Planning Permission for a dropped kerb:

the road is listed as A, B or C
the road is a trunk road or a principal road
the building is a listed one
the property is in a conservation area
the property is a flat or a maisonette
the property is a commercial or industrial building

If you are building a new house and you have full planning consent from your planning authority, you will need to seek permission for a dropped kerb separately.

You will also need permission from your local council office and highway authority.

Once your application is approved, some councils will allow you to hire a private contractor for the task, while others will get the work done and charge you for it. Charges may vary from council to council and may range between £1500 and £3000; depending on the nature and extent of work involved. There may be additional costs that include the license fee and consult charges of a contractor.

There is a chance that your application for dropped kerb gets rejected by the local council or planning permission, in case of any of the below situations:

the kerb is too close to a junction
the visibility is restricted by walls or hedges
tress, road signs or bus stops would need to be moved

Alternatively, you may be charged a fee of £600 for tree removal and around £3000 for removal of road signs or bus stops; however, in certain cases the rejection withstands.

It must be noted that in case a resident needs to drive their vehicle over a footway into their driveway on a highway, they will need to build a dropped kerb. If they fail to do so, they will have to park their vehicle on the street as driving over a footway is considered breaking the law.

Do I Need Planning Permission For Extension?

If you follow the Permitted Development guidelines, you do not need Planning Permission for an extension to your house. However, in case there is major work to be done at the front of the house, next to a road or a boundary, Planning Permission will be required.

In case of any of the following changes to your property due to the extension, Planning Permission will be required:

More than 50 per cent of the land around the main house is going to be covered.
The extension is going to be located at the front of the house or on a side with an adjacent highway.
The materials to be used in the extension are not the same as the main house.
The height of the extension will be higher than the highest point on the roof of the main house.
The height of the eaves and ridges will be higher than those of the main house.
There is going to be an addition of raised platforms, balconies or verandahs.

Do I Need Planning Permission For Loft Conversion?

Internal work on your property such as loft conversion, garage conversion, new staircases, bathrooms, kitchens or rewiring does not require planning permission as such work is considered under permitted development.

However, if you live in a leasehold flat, you may not be able to proceed with loft conversion without taking all legislative rights from the freeholder. They may also ask to oversee the structural designs and plan prior to anything restructured.

The next step would be to take the approval of Building Regulations to assure that minimum standards for design and structure are being met during the restructuring process.

Do I Need Planning Permission For Garage Conversion?

No, you don’t need planning permission for a garage conversion; however, you will need Building Regulations, in this case, to make sure that your property is not only safe and hazard-free but also improves the overall living standard for you and your surroundings.

You or your builder should contact the Building Regulations department prior to the commencement of any work on your property. A building control inspector may visit your property at various intervals of the construction/remodelling process to assure that all standards and procedures are being met.

Do I Need Planning Permission For A Conservatory?

According to Planning Permission terms, conservatories are included in permitted development; which means that a separate approval is not required at the time of construction as long as the following terms are met:

A conservatory cannot be bigger than 50 per cent of the area surrounding the main house.
In the case of a detached house, the conservatory can extend backward (from the rear wall of the main house) to a maximum of eight metres and in the case of semi-detached houses the limit is six metres.
A conservatory built in the rear of the house cannot be higher than 4 metres.

However, in case of the following events, Planning Permission will be needed by the resident(s) prior to the building of the conservatory:

More than 50 per cent of the surrounding area of the main house is going to be covered by the conservatory.
The conservatory is going to be built either on the front of the main house or on a road-facing side.
The resident lives in a designated area or in a listed building.
The height of the conservatory is going to be higher than the highest point on the roof of the main house.

What Is Included In Permitted Development?

The scope of Permitted Development runs across varied projects that may be related to the internal or external structure of a property. Home improvement projects under Permitted Development include the following:

building of a small rear extension
construction of a porch
changes of use including loft, garage or basement conversions
knocking down internal walls
installation of solar panels
installation of satellite dishes
addtition of rooflights or dormer windows

What Are Building Regulations?

These are some basic standards for the design and structural changes that are to occur and are essential to be met during the construction, conversion or refurbishment of properties. Building Regulations have been set to assure that the health and safety of the residents will not be compromised in any way as a result of the said modifications to the property.

These include the following:

Structural changes such as house extensions or conversions should not affect a load-bearing wall, beam or chimney breast which will make access to the property difficult.
There should be no electrical safety concerns due to the addition of fuse boxes or plugs, or a change of electrics that causes new electrical wiring.
Installation of heating appliances such as a boiler, radiator or fuel-burning appliance should be managed with extreme caution.
There should be no concern for fire hazards due to construction work and the escape route (of the added/converted section to the premises) must comply with fire safety standards.
Installation of a new bathroom or kitchen should not affect the overall plumbing of the house.
New windows, doors or fixed air-conditioning systems should meet the safety and design standards set by Building Regulations.

Conclusion:

Planning Permission becomes essential for dropped kerb only under specific circumstances and as long as the road is listed as unclassified, it is a private road or a private street. In addition to understanding the role of the Planning Permission, there are essentials regarding Building Regulations and Permitted Development that may require some understanding prior to residential modifications. For instance, the building of a small rear extension or the construction of a porch falls under permitted development while Building regulations include terms such as there should be no electrical safety concerns due to the addition of fuse boxes or plugs, or a change of electrics that causes new electrical wiring.

FAQs: Do I Need Planning Permission For Dropped Kerb?

What is the law regarding dropped Kerbs?

You will not need Planning Permission in case the road is listed as unclassified, it is a private road or a private street. However, in the case of the road is listed as A, B or C, is a trunk road or a principal road, the building is a listed one, the property is in a conservation area, is a flat or a maisonette or the property is a commercial or industrial building, you will need Planning Permission for a dropped kerb.

Can you drop a kerb yourself?

Once your application is approved, some councils will allow you to hire a private contractor for the task, while others will get the work done and charge you for it. However, councils will not allow residents to drop off a kerb on their own.

Is a dropped kerb permitted development?

In case the road is listed as unclassified, it is a private road or a private street, a dropped kerb is permitted development. However, in the case of the road is listed as A, B or C, is a trunk road or a principal road, the building is a listed one, the property is in a conservation area, is a flat or a maisonette or the property is a commercial or industrial building, you will need Planning Permission for a dropped kerb.

Can my neighbour park on my dropped kerb?

While it may not be a criminal offence for your neighbour to park their car on your dropped kerb, they should only do so if they share the kerb with you.