Vehicle access across footways and verges (dropped kerbs)

Guidance notes

Please note that we are currently running a trial in East Herts district area that will allow the customer to choose from a select list of contractors to carry out the works rather than using the County Council's own contractor. Under the trial, the application process and fees have changed. The initial survey fee is £104. If you live in the East Herts area, please contact us to receive your application form and further details about the process. Applicants who live in the Stevenage or Broxbourne areas should contact their district council about vehicle crossovers. Applicants in all other areas should follow the guidance below.

The following explains what you need to do if you would like to have a new vehicle access constructed across the verge or footway so that you can drive from the road on to your property. The notes deal with access to private dwellings from unclassified roads. Please contact the planning authority at your local council about vehicle access on classified roads or at commercial premises - these require planning permission.

Stage 1

In some places, space or safety considerations or steep slopes will make it impossible to construct a driveway or parking space within a garden.

Information obtained at this stage should enable you to see whether it is viable to provide an access in your case. If it is not viable then there is little point in paying for the Council to do the survey as explained in Stage 2.

You will need to carry out the following four checks to complete the Stage 1 assessment: -

Is there enough room between the back of the footway/verge and the house or garage in your garden?

The minimum space required on level ground is 5 metres.

Is the position of the access at least 15 metres from a road junction?(as shown in figure 1)

This is usually necessary unless the road you are accessing from is a cul de sac.

Is there a minimum width of 2.4m that is required for a single vehicle width access?

Double width accesses are usually discouraged.

Will you be able to see pedestrians and vehicles well enough to drive out of the driveway without causing danger either to yourself or other people using the road?

The required visibility areas must be generally clear of obstructions with any plants or structures kept below 600mm so that you can see over them.

If you can answer ‘yes’ to these checks then you may decide to proceed to Stage 2. If the answer to any of them is ‘no’ then it means that your site is either too small or that safe access to your property may not be possible.

Stage 2

Contact us for an application form and send it to Hertfordshire Highways who will carry out a survey and send you an estimate for the cost of constructing the access. A fee of £83 is charged for this survey and you must include the fee payment (cheques payable to Hertfordshire County Council) with the application.

Hertfordshire Highways will check on the points described in Stage 1 when visiting the address. If this reveals that any of the criteria cannot be met you will be advised that an access cannot be constructed and you cannot proceed any further. The survey fee is not refundable in these circumstances.

Stage 3

The Council will write to inform you of the cost of constructing the access. It is important to note the cost they quote only relates to the construction of works in the highway. It does not include the cost of any works within your property boundary.

Stage 4

If you decide that you would like the access to be constructed you will need to sign the quotation form sent by Hertfordshire Highways and return it together with a cheque (payable to Hertfordshire County Council) for the construction cost.

Stage 5

Hertfordshire Highways will arrive and construct the access normally within six weeks following receipt of payment of the construction cost. Hertfordshire Highways will arrange for future maintenance of the access within the highway.

If you would like any further information and/or an application form please contact us.