Do I need planning permission to extend my dropped kerb?

[kiriwawa]

My new neighbours park with their bumper overhanging the start of the dropped bit which means there's not enough space to get my car in and out so I wanted to get it widened by about a foot. It's been there for years - do I need planning permission to widen it such a small amount?

Could you ask your neighbours to park a bit the other way? I am sure you would need planning permission to alter it , yes.

Yes, I could do. There is what seems like enough space for 2 cars to park between the end of my dropped kerb and the next one along so if someone's parked behind them, there's nowhere to move their car too.

Usually that space doesn't get used that much except by commuters and they tend to park in the centre of the space so it's never been a huge issue before (there was an old lady living in the house before these people moved in and she didn't have a car)

I could ask them I guess but it feels a bit petty and crap. It's a really narrow dropped kerb and the drive's at a funny angle which doesn't help

I think you only need pp if it is on a classified road, but you always need approval (not pp) from the council to make or enlarge a vehicle crossover.

If your not on a classified road (ie. one with an a or a b number) you won't need planning permission. Normally either the work has to be done by the council or by an approved contractor. It varies depending on the council you live in, prices to get it done can vary hugely as well.

Thanks. It's not a classified road. I'm having a fencing bloke come to do some work soon and he does driveways etc too so I'll have a word with him and see if he can widen the dropped kerb at the same time.

I did speak to the neighbour (thanks for spurring me on RedHelenB). She was very defensive and said that if the car parked on the other side of my dropped kerb (which wasn't overhanging it at all) had parked further away, I would have been able to get in!

She can't drive but has said she'll ask her husband to back it up a bit when he comes back from work tomorrow. He is being v considerate in making sure there's enough room for a car to park behind him in the way he parks so I'm hoping he's a lot less defensive than she was

You'll still need permission from the council it's just not planning permission. In the county I live in it is only the council who are allowed to carry out the work needed.

Well my neighbour's husband came home. He got into his car, saw me (I was cutting the hedge in the front but he couldn't have seen me when he first came out as my house is on the corner so the front of my house is at right angles to his) and then got out of the car again, said hello to a mate who I think had just arrived in his car and went back into the house. Car hasn't moved. :(

I'm hoping that it was because his friend was there but it seems a bit peculiar/aggressive. I smiled but I can't see distances very well without my glasses so not sure if he returned the smile.

Guess I'll have to call the council tomorrow. They have given planning permission for 2 lots of people to pave over their front gardens in my street in the last couple of years so hopefully they'll say yes. My dropped kerb is really short compared to the ones on the rest of the street.

I don't mind paying if it means that the parking issue is resolved.

The council will send someone round to look at and assess your request. Then you have to wait for permission from the council to have the work done. They provide you with a list of "approved" contractors to do the work and then you contact the contractors yourself to get the work done. You pay them directly. Then the council should sign off the work and you'll be given a certificate. You'll need this if you decide to sell your home at a later date.

HTH

Thanks Spickle, that's really helpful. Fingers crossed that the fencing/driveway guy I've already got a quote from for the new fence is an approved contractor.

I have a huge drive but share the dropped kerb with my neighbour, it was like this before I moved in so it was probably arranged like this to cut the cost. I also have trouble with their cars overhanging the drive which makes it really difficult getting in and out. They also park over the drive sometimes. I am hoping to either get it extended on my half and have white lines painted or to have another dropped kerb put in the other end of my drive, both have been quoted to cost about £1000-1500.

Phew - just looked out the window and they've moved their car! Basically if they move it about a foot back then no one can park behind them. Parking is only a real issue round here during the week as we're really near the station so it should be fine now as he gets the train to work :)

Ouch @ £1000! Hopefully I won't have to resort to that

Yes, our county council charges about £1500 to do it.(!)

More than anything, I'm really relieved that they aren't a complete shower of wankers. I can't stand the idea of having difficult relations with my neighbours - I lived downstairs from a complete psycho once who used to put threatening notes under my door and it ended up making me ill

It does depend on the area. In Nottinghamshire the county council do it themselves, no approved contractors. Ours was £500 to put a new drop in completely, widening should be less. Note that it's the county council that do highway stuff like dropped kerbs and it's the district council that deal with planning permissions if your in a non-unitary place so make sure you contact the right one!

Same advice again - county council arranged the whole thing.
We had our drop kerb widened.
I can't remember the cost but it was more that £500 but less than £1,000.