How Do You Apply For A Dropped Kerb In Birmingham City Council?

If you are wondering about how to get a dropped kerb constructed in Birmingham City Council, you will find details in the following article about the application process, a cost estimate and some important points to keep in mind before you apply.

How Do You Apply For A Dropped Kerb In Birmingham City Council?

You can apply for a dropped kerb in Birmingham City Council through their website. The application fee is £98 and certain requirements need to be fulfilled so that your application for a dropped kerb is approved. These essential requirements include the following:

• You will need space of at least 4.75m (approx. 15′ 5″) in length for your driveway; which should be in place before a dropped kerb can be constructed.
• Otherwise, there should be permeable hardstanding constructed. This includes surfaces such as porous tarmac/concrete, slab or block paving.
• In case of a loose gravel driveway, there should be measures put in place to make sure that the gravel is retained and does not spread across the pavement.
• The standard dimensions for a dropped kerb must include a width crossing of 2.75m (approx. 9′) at the front fence, hedge or wall of the property and 4.5m (approx. 14′ 7″) at the edge of the kerb.
• A dropped kerb should not endanger or obstruct traffic.
• It should be constructed using a material similar to its surrounding area e.g. tarmac, slabs or block paving.
• You will need to get permission from your Local Council, Local Highway Authority and in some cases, Planning Permission.

However, in case the road is listed as unclassified, it is a private road or a private street, you will not need Planning Permission.

Once you apply for a dropped kerb keeping the above factors in view and make the payment for the application fee (this is a non-refundable amount), it can take up to 9 months for Birmingham City Council to approve your application and allow you to start construction.

If you are not a homeowner but a tenant and need to construct a dropped kerb on your rented property, you should first seek approval from your landlord or the person with the freehold lease. Social housing tenants will need permission from their housing association or social housing landlord.

It is important to remember that construction of a dropped kerb can only be carried out by contractors approved by the local council.

How Much Does It Cost For A Dropped Kerb In Birmingham City Council?

If you plan to get a dropped kerb constructed in Birmingham CIity Council, you should keep the following costs in mind at the planning stage so that you can budget accordingly:

• The application fee for a dropped kerb is £98. This is a non-refundable amount paid online to the local council office. This includes site inspection by local council officials.
• Materials and labour costs for a standard width crossing are between £2,000 and £4,000; including the admin fee of £281. 
• Then there are additional charges such as moving cables, trees, street furniture, and utility boxes this can raise the cost to £6,000 or more.

All payments directed to Birmingham City Council can be made online, using a debit or credit card.

Can Your Application For Dropped Kerb Be Rejected By Birmingham City Council?

Yes, your application for a dropped kerb can be rejected by the Birmingham City Council in the following situations:

• The space from the back of the footway to the front of the building is less than 4.75m and overhanging vehicles can potentially cause obstructions.
• The driveway is steeper than 1 in 10.
• There is a healthy tree nearby which will be affected by the construction of a dropped kerb.
• The applicant has not been able to secure permission from their landlord, their local council or Planning Permission. 
• The planned dropped kerb will be too close to a junction.
• The visibility of the kerb will be hampered by walls or hedges.

While in certain cases, you may have to bear an additional cost to have your application for a dropped kerb; however, once an application is rejected it is most likely not to be accepted in the future as well.

Conclusion:

The above blog post provides detailed guidance on how to apply for a dropped kerb in Birmingham City Council. Residents will need to make sure that their plan for a dropped kerb meets the essential requirements and that they can attain the necessary permissions before they apply. 

References:

Apply for a new dropped kerb or extension

How much will it cost? | Apply for a dropped kerb | Birmingham City Council