Dropped kerbs guidance notes
Refusal of application
Sunderland City Council reserves the right to refuse any application for a vehicular crossing or access over a public highway. All decision is final and there is no formal appeals process.
Notification period
Please note it can take around 10 working days from receipt of your application to receive notification of our decision. If you choose to proceed with the cost quoted by Sunderland City Council the payment is required to be made in full and the works will be carried out within a period of 4 to 6 weeks, subject to weather conditions. Please note that timelines may be extended during the winter months due to adverse weather.
Should you cancel the works once payment has been made, you will be refunded your payment minus a further £73.57 to cover all administration costs.
Approval of application
Sunderland City Council will notify you if your application has been approved or declined. If approved, you will receive a quote for undertaking the works.
Advice on completing the form
Please see additional advice and guidance for each application question below:
1. Do you own the property at the proposed crossing location or is it rented?
As part of your application, we will require written confirmation from your landlord, housing association or similar to confirm that you have permission to proceed with the works associated with the application.
2. Is your house located within a conservation area or is it a listed building?
If your property is within a conservation zone you may require planning permission prior to proceeding with a domestic vehicular crossing application.
If your property is within a conservation zone and you have planning permission a copy of your planning permission should be attached to your application.
If you are unsure if your property is within a conservation zone further details are available on our conservation areas page.
3. Do you have an existing vehicular crossing?
If your property has any current vehicular crossings this should be included even if they are on different streets or locations. We do not allow multiple crossings on the same street from a single property.
If you intend to extend an existing crossing, please note the maximum width is 4.8 metres (including taper kerbs and your existing crossing). Any applications over and above this will be refused.
4. Do you require a single or double width crossing?
Indicate if you require a single or double width crossing to accommodate your proposed hard standing within your property.
5. Is the parking area a minimum of 5 metres in length?
This distance is measured at right angles to the road.
If your property has an existing garage with an up and over garage door the minimum length required is 5.5 mertres. Appendix 2 shows further guidance as to how this should be measured.
If the proposed works include gates, then they must not open outwards on to the public highway and must be contained with the curtilage of the property.
Any applications with less than the required length of parking area will be refused.
6. Do you live close to a road junction?
If your proposed driveway is close to a road junction your application may be refused. Your proposed driveway must be more than 15 metres of a major road junction (Classified as an A, B or C Road, or used as a bus route or is the main road through your estate), or 10 metres from any other junction.
If your drive is opposite the junction, then please contact Sunderland City Council for advice. Appendix 1 shows the minimum distance acceptable from junctions
Any application which is within the minimum distance set out in Appendix 1 will be refused.
7. Will the dropped kerb crossing be located on a Classified Road (A, B or C classified highway)?
If your property is on a classified road then you will require planning prior to proceeding with a domestic vehicular crossing application.
To find out if you require planning permission for a dropped kerb, please have a look at our planning section
If you already have planning permission a copy of this should be included with this application.
8. Do you live close to a bus stop?
The definition of close is within 18 metres of the bus stop 'flag' where the bus stop is located on the same side of the carriageway as your property resulting in a stationary bus obstructing your driveway.
Any application within the minimum distance will be refused.
9. Are there any trees near the proposed crossing?
Any trees within or likely to be affected by any proposed crossing will need to be inspected by the council's arboriculture officer.
We will deal with this as part of the application process.
11. Are there any street lighting columns/BT poles/street furniture near to where you would like the crossing?
The proposed crossing needs to be 1 meter from any utility apparatus.
Relocation of any apparatus including lighting columns would need to be agreed with and procured through the utility provider. This should not be progressed until you have a successful application.
12. Are there any ironwork such as manhole covers in the footway or verge?
Some of the covers within footways are not suitable for vehicles and if any are present where the crossing is proposed these may need to be amended.
Changes to the type and level of covers would need to be agreed with and procured through the utility provider. This will be dealt with as part of the application process.
13. Is there a parking bay or utility or service strip in front of the property?
A parking bay is usually indicated using road markings (white lines) or in the form of a layby.
If there is a utility/service strip to the front of the property, then an application may be successful, but the 5 metres required for the parking area cannot include this area.
This will be assessed as part of the application.
Any application with a parking bay to the front of the property will be refused.
14. Is there a steep verge or footway outside your property?
To prevent grounding any verge or footway where the crossing joins the carriageway (road) must be less than 1:6 gradient.
Any application more than this will be refused.
This will be assessed as part of the application.
15. Can a 2 x 2 metre clear line of sight (visibility splay) be achieved to the left and right of the proposed drive?
Appendix 3 gives further guidance on how this is measured.
If you are not certain, this will be assessed as part of the application.
If this visibility cannot be achieved, then an application would be refused.
16. Can the parking area within your property be built so that water does not drain from it onto the highway?
It is an offence under the Highways Act to discharge water across the Highway. As such any application will need to show how the drainage of water will be dealt with.
Any application which does not show how the drainage of water will be addressed or shows the area to be draining on to the highway will be refused.
17. Does anyone other than the property owner has access rights across the land you wish to park on/cross over?
If yes, you must provide written details of the access rights.
