Vehicle Crossover (Dropped Kerbs)

If residents wish to drive across the footway to gain access to park on their property, they are required under the Highways Act 1980 to have a vehicle crossover constructed. A vehicle crossover is where the footway is reinforced to take the weight of the vehicle and the kerb is dropped to form a ramp.

Please use the links below to learn how to apply.

• Legal considerations
• Do I need planning permission?
  • Obtaining planning permission
• Applying for a vehicle crossover
• Processing your application
• Conditions of construction

Legal considerations

In order to ensure that vehicle crossings are properly constructed, all domestic vehicle crossings will be built by the Highways Maintenance Team who are part of Haringey Council.

They will deal with the provision of estimates and receive payments before the work is carried out.

Access Bars (white line across dropped kerb)

Important: we no longer paint or repaint access bars (white lines) across dropped kerbs.

If your home or business has a dropped kerb and a vehicle is blocking your access, you can ask us to remove it. A removal vehicle will be sent to assess whether the vehicle is parked illegally and is causing an obstruction, and where appropriate remove the vehicle. The service operates between 7am and 7pm.

• See the Dangerous and Obstructive Parking page for details on how to report

Back to top

Do I need planning permission?

Planning permission is not required for a vehicle crossover (dropped kerb), unless the crossover is directly on a classified road. You can search our Highways Register to confirm if a road is classified.

Please note: planning permission may be required for other works, such as removing a front boundary wall and a new driveway.

If the new hard standing to be constructed is more than 5 square metres in area, planning permission will be required for laying traditional, impermeable surfaces that do not control surface water running off onto the road. Planning permission will not be required if the new driveway uses permeable surfaces such as gravel, permeable concrete, block paving or porous asphalt, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border within the same property to drain naturally.

This does not apply if:

• the property involved is a listed building
• the property involved is not a house, eg: a flat, maisonette, commercial or industrial premises
• the property is within a conservation area with an Article 4 direction - you can view conservation areas and search for individual properties using our interactive map

If the property is in a conservation area, planning permission will be required if the works include the demolition of a front wall that is more than 1 metre in height, or there is an Article 4 direction for the conservation area. You can view conservation areas and search for individual properties using our interactive map.

We recommend that before carrying out any works, you apply for a Lawful development certificate (external link), which provides peace of mind and if you should later want to sell your property. A Lawful Development Certificate may be helpful to answer queries raised by potential buyers or their legal representatives.

Obtaining planning permission

If it appears that your property comes within one of the above classifications and planning permission is required, you should submit a planning application. For guidance see our Planning Application section.

• Planning Department
  Level 6 - River Park House
  225 High Road
  Wood Green
  N22 8HQ
• Tel 020 8489 1335
• Opening hours for general advice: Monday-Friday, 8.45am-5pm.

Please note: to discuss your application with a Planning Officer you may need to make an appointment.

Back to top

Applying for a vehicle crossover

Please complete the eform below:

Request a crossover/dropped kerb

Back to top

Costs

The average cost of a vehicle crossover is £2,700, but can vary between £500 and £16,000 depending on a number of factors including the building materials needed, and modifications to Traffic Management Orders. Before any cost quotation can be provided, an Engineer inspection must be carried out, and this will be charged at £309.90.

Additionally, if the inspection identifies that utilities (e.g. water pipes) need to be moved to allow the cross over to be built, you must separately contact the utilities companies to arrange for these works and will be responsible for any charges incurred.

Back to top

Processing your application

1. When we receive a marked map and completed details we will consult the Project Engineer who will arrange a site inspection to check for suitability, the presence of cable boxes, etc and measure the proposed area for estimate purposes.
2. On inspection, should it be found that services are present in the footway, we will be obliged by law to inform the relevant utility of the proposed work and should any cables, plant and/or boxes require relocation/strengthening etc a charge may be made and passed on to you.
3. You will be notified of the estimated cost of the work to be carried out by Haringey Council approximately six weeks following receipt of the map (based on the assumption that no special work will be necessary) plus any charges which may be made by the Utilities.
4. Full payment will be required before work can commence. However, should it become evident at any time that additional work is necessary which is likely to incur extra costs, a further deposit may be required.
5. On completion of the works the total cost will be assessed and should these be greater than the estimate given an account will be rendered to you for the excess or if they are less any overpayment will be refunded.
6. Finally may we remind you that under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, you must not undertake work on the public highway.
7. Please read our Vehicle Crossover - guidance notes (PDF, 199KB) before you make your application.

Back to top

Conditions of construction

Please note that there are certain conditions which must be met before construction can commence:

• The minimum depth from the back of the footway to your building line must be 4.80 metres.
• There must be a suitable opening in your boundary wall or fence to allow access to the parking space or garage.
• Where gates are installed they must not open outwards onto the public highway.
• All hard standing or parking spaces within the private property must be constructed prior to construction of the vehicle crossover. This is to ensure that the new crossover is not damaged during the construction of the hard standing.
• Applicants are also strongly advised to consult with the Planning and Development section for further guidance and advice to ensure proposed works do not detract from the character of the surroundings.
• Planning permission is not automatic and you should be aware that permission may be refused. However do not let this delay you in returning the map.
• When planning permission has been obtained please advise us of the reference number and date.
• If you are a tenant in a Council property you must obtain permission from your Area Housing Office.

Back to top

Advice and recommendations on sustainable construction and drainage of hard standings

Where the hard standing involves removal of soft gardens within the property the applicant must arrange to keep the hard surface to a minimum where feasible and practical. This can be achieved by creating two paved tracks wide enough to accommodate the car wheels.

Recent experiences of global climate change, including increased rainfall intensities resulting in rapid-run offs have put a tremendous strain on conventional storm water drainage and in some circumstances has exacerbated localised flooding. In order to mitigate the effects on the surrounding environment, hard-standings within private properties can be constructed with a variety of materials and methods. Some examples of these are detailed below:

Concrete block paving such as PRIORA, AQUADA etc. (manufactured by Marshalls or similar approved) offer permeable joints or porous surfacing that are suitable for diverting surface run-off on to conventional drainage systems within the private property. Laying the blocks in herringbone pattern can also be beneficial.

Various designs of linear drainage channels with the outlets connected to one or more ‘sub-surface soak-aways’ within the property can effectively ensure that surface water run off is not discharged on to the public highway. The actual dimensions of the soakaway and sizes of backfill materials will depend on the area of the hardstanding and permeability of materials adjacent to the soakaway.

The information provided above is based on typical projects. It is therefore recommended that each location is designed to suit specific site conditions and restrictions.

Back to top