Harrogate Borough Council
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Dropped Kerbs and Crossovers
The approval of the Highway Authority is needed for a crossing to be constructed. It should be constructed by approved contractors who must work to the Highway Authority's specifications and requirements.
Planning permission will be required if:
- the property involved has the frontage directly onto a classified road
- the property involved is a listed building
- the property involved is other than a house for a single family, for example, a flat, a maisonette, commercial or industrial premises.
See Planning for further information.
Important notice
The construction of a vehicle crossing does not give the occupier of the premises any particular rights, except to drive across the footway to gain access to his/her property with a private motor car or light goods vehicle, the crossing itself is part of the public highway. From the date that the Council accepts the completed crossing, they will assume responsibility for its maintenance at no cost to the occupier, apart from any damage caused by illegal use by heavy vehicles etc.
If you decide to go ahead with the construction you must
remove the fence, wall or hedge within the property at the place
where the crossing will be located before construction can take
place.
Conditions
The following is a list of conditions relevant to the
construction and the use of a domestic vehicle crossing after it
has been completed.
Permitted types of vehicles
A domestic vehicle crossing may only be used by a private
light goods or similar vehicle. It may not be used by heavy goods
vehicles or mechanical equipment. If a delivery, such as a skip, is
made into the property, and in doing so the delivery damages the
crossing, any repairs will be the responsibility of the
occupier.
Size of the crossing
The width of a standard crossing is 2.44 metres at the back of
the public footway. This increases to about 4.58 metres at the
kerbline. Crossings up to twice that width or two separate
crossings may be built where there is sufficient space to leave a
continuous length of two metres of unused space at the kerbline. A
crossing, which covers the full frontage, may not be
permitted.
Shared access
Where the occupiers of two adjoining properties share a
driveway, and wish to build a double width crossing to serve the
two sites, one occupier should act on behalf of both parties.
Two crossings at the same property
Where a request is made for two crossings to serve the
property and the space available means that the area between them
is at or close to the minimum limits, i.e. two metres in width, a
decision will have to be made as to the shape of the crossing.
Where there is an existing crossing it may mean that this also will
have to be modified.
Parking within your property
Your application will not be approved unless you are able to
provide a suitable parking area within your property, this must be
at least 4.8 metres long, measured from the front of your house to
the boundary of your property and 2.44 metres wide. There must be
enough space around this area for pedestrian access. If the width
of your property is more than 8m these conditions may not
apply.
There may be instances where the above criteria are not met.
In such cases approval may be given, subject to a site inspection
by a Highway Inspector. The Highway Inspector's decision as to
whether the application will be approved or refused is final.
No part of a vehicle parked within your property may project
on to or over the highway. The crossing may not be used as a
parking area and no part of it is exempted for the purpose of
footway parking.
Hardstandings
Where you are intending to use gravel or a similar loose
material for your hardstanding, you should consider the problem of
some being carried on to the highway by the movement of the
vehicle. This is especially true where the surface comes up to the
boundary. Where material of this type is used, concrete or blacktop
should be laid in a 500mm strip from the boundary to the start of
the gravelled area. This will help to reduce any problem. If the
material is carried onto the highway it will be the responsibility
of the occupier to remove it by sweeping etc.
Drainage
The parking area within your property must be built so that
water does not drain from it across the footway. Suitable drainage
must be provided within the boundaries of your property.
Standard finish
The standard finish to crossings is tarmacadam, block paving
or flags to match the existing footway.
Excessively bright colours or mixed finishers will not be
permitted. The decision on such matters will be made by the Highway
Authority. If at a later date after acceptance of the crossing by
the Highway Authority, reinstatement work or changes in the road
layout take place, they will try their utmost to match the finish,
colour or shape of the blocks, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Street furniture
Where applicants have removed more of the wall or fence
running along the boundary, than is required by the size of the
crossing, it should be understood that an item of street furniture,
for example, lamp post, telegraph pole, traffic sign etc., may be
erected at any time in the footway outside the area of a crossing,
even though this may obstruct an area where there is no wall or
similar feature.
Obstacles to construction
If the proposed position of the access is obstructed by a road
sign, lamp post, or tree, etc. the location should be altered to
avoid the obstacle. If this is not feasible, a decision will have
to be made by the relevant section as to whether the item should be
removed or relocated.
If a statutory authority is required to carry out work by
relocating a fire hydrant, telegraph pole etc. any charges for such
work will be the responsibility of the applicant, who will be
required to produce written proof of approval by the authority
before a crossing can be built.
If an applicant wishes the crossing to be placed in a location
other than that recommended and this requires the relocation of a
lamp post or similar item, which would not otherwise be necessary,
he/she will be required to pay the full cost of relocation.
Alterations to your vehicle crossover
The Council may need to alter the layout of your vehicle
crossover at any time, due to modifications in the footway or
verge. Every effort will be made to maintain access to your
property and the occupier of premises so affected will be given
adequate notice of such works.
Safety
Any application for the construction of a domestic crossing
may be refused or modified on the grounds of safety. The applicant
must ensure that adequate sight lines are maintained to allow safe
access to their property.
Gates across vehicle entrance
Gates fitted across the vehicle entrance to your property may
in no circumstances open outwards across the footpath or
carriageway. ( Highways Act 1980 - Section 153).
How to apply
Please write giving full details of your proposal
to:
Transport Services
Department of Development Services
Knapping Mount
West Grove Road
Harrogate
HG1 2AE
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