Dropped kerbs

Sunderland City Council follow a protocol to make sure all dropped kerbs for vehicular property access are implemented as safely as possible according to section 184 of the Highways Act 1980.

For help with your application, please read our Dropped kerbs guidance notes.

Before you apply please read and be aware of the following:

• Standard dropped kerb installation typical costs
  • Typical cost of a standard 2.7 metres crossing on a standard width footway (1.8 metres) is approximately £1,900
  • Extensions to existing crossings over the standard width footway (1.8 metres) are approximately £750 per metre
  • Works include: The lowering of the kerbline and the necessary alterations to any public footway and verge. The cost for the work includes all materials, storage, labour, traffic management, and hire of equipment.

Note: These are general estimates, the actual costs may vary depending on current council rates and specific site conditions.

• Your application will be refused if you don't meet the conditions below
• There is no formal appeals process as all decisions are made within our agreed protocol

Apply for a dropped kerb

You will need to have a look at our planning section if:

• You live in a conservation area area, as there may be restrictions
• Your property is on a classified road 
  • A roads - major roads intended to provide large scale transport links within or between areas
  • B roads - roads intended to connect different areas, and to feed traffic between A roads and smaller roads on the network  
  • C roads - classified unnumbered - smaller roads intended to connect together unclassified roads with A and B roads, and often linking a housing estate or a village to the rest of the network.
  • Unclassified - local roads intended for local traffic. 60% of roads in the UK fall within this category, do not need planning permission

Your application may be refused if:

• The parking area is less than five metres deep
• You're extending an existing driveway over 4.8 metres.
• Your driveway is within 15 metres of a major road junction or 10 metres from any other junction
• your driveway is close to a bus stop
• Your driveway is less than one metre from street furniture including a street lighting column or sign
• There is an existing parking bay in front of the access
• There is less than two metres visibility either side
• Water would drain onto the highway from your drive

Before you apply for a dropped kerb, please read our dropped kerbs guidance notes. 

Investigations will be needed or assessments carried out if there's:

• A canopy of trees over the proposed drop kerb
• Manhole covers or iron works on the footprint of the proposed drop kerb
• A steep verge or footway as vehicles would be at risk of grounding, it should be no greater than one in six
• Any right of access on the land you wish to cross over

You will need to provide the following where appropriate:

• A detailed sketch with dimensions of your proposed driveway and dropped kerb. See an example of a standard domestic driveway layout
• If your property is rented, written permission from your private landlord, housing association

Evidence of planning permission if your property is on a classified (A, B or C) road.