Apply and pay for a new dropped kerb/ vehicle access

To avoid your application being refused, visit criteria for dropped kerb accesses for full details or alternatively you can read the criteria by downloading the criteria for dropped kerb accesses document.

Please do not presume that your application kerb will be approved - not all properties along a section of road can have a dropped kerb.

Please remember the application fee of £430 is non-refundable.

Where your application may differ from the criteria or if you are in any doubt over whether your application will be acceptable, you will need to apply for pre-application advice the fee for this is £215.

You legally need our permission to work on a publicly maintained highway for:

• a new dropped kerb/vehicle access
• extending or changing an existing dropped kerb/vehicle access
• working on the footway (pavement), road, verge or public right of way

This application process is only suitable for accesses for one or two dwellings.

You'll need planning permission from your local District or Borough council before you apply to us, if the dropped kerb:

• leads onto an A, B, or C road
• is within a Conservation Area
• involves alterations to a listed building or walls attached to a listed building
• provides access to commercial or industrial premises
• includes an area that needs paving more than 5 square metres
• is associated with other development such as new buildings, extensions or high walls

You're responsible to get planning permission from the local planning authority before you apply.

Find your local district or borough council

If you know who your district or borough council is, find a link for to their planning pages:

• Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Council
• Broads Authority
• East Suffolk District Council
• Ipswich Borough Council
• West Suffolk District Council

If you don't know your local district or borough council, you can visit GOV.UK to find out who your local council is.

Tenants of rented properties

You must get permission from your landlord before you apply.

Other things to consider and get advice about, include:

• trees
• bus stops and lamp posts
• utility apparatus (e.g. telecoms covers, stop cock access points, water meter covers through to larger inspection chambers)
• drainage/surface water

We recommend you read the dropped kerb/vehicle access criteria found in step 1 before you apply and prevent your application from being rejected.

Only apply if you meet the dropped kerb/vehicle access criteria. To read the criteria, go back to step 1. The application fee of £430.00 is non-refundable.

If a neighbouring property already has a dropped kerb, don't assume you'll also get permission if you apply. Each application is considered against the current criteria.

Only apply if you meet the dropped kerb/vehicle access criteria. To read the criteria, go back to step 1. The application fee of £430.00 is non-refundable.

We recommend you do not use Internet Explorer to access our payment system, as you may experience more issues compared to other web browsers.

Your application won’t be processed until after you've paid the application fee. 

Other ways to pay 

Send your completed application form and cheque for £430, payable to Suffolk County Council, to:

Suffolk Highways
Phoenix House
3 Goddard Road
Ipswich
Suffolk
IP1 5NP

There will be a delay to the process by 7 days until the authorisation of the cheque clearance has been received. 

Site visit

We'll carry out a site visit to check the application against the criteria and respond within 20 working days.

If you're refused

You’ll receive a response from us explaining the reasons for the refusal. The fee is non-refundable even if the application is refused

If you're approved

You'll receive an approval letter and construction drawings if your application does fit the criteria. You can then arrange for an accredited contractor to book road space and construct the dropped kerb/vehicle access to our specification.

The construction work must be completed within one year from the date of the approval letter after which you will be required to submit a new application with all applicable fees or apply for an extension to your approval.

Responsibility

It's a legal requirement under the New Roads and Street Works Act (1991) that any contractor excavating or working in the highway has:

• supervisors and operatives (GOV.UK), and
• valid public liability insurance (with an insured sum of no less than £5,000,000)

As the applicant, you are responsible for ensuring your contractor has the necessary qualifications (Please see link above) and the necessary insurance cover, to undertake the work.

You are also responsible for ensuring that your contractor applies to the Traffic Management team at developernoticing@suffolkhighways.org prior to commencing any work, to arrange the booking of road space. We will also check qualifications and insurance cover at this point.

It's an offence to carry out works within the public highway (including public rights of way) without the permission of the highway authority.

Inspection of the Dropped Kerb Access

Following the booking of road space, Suffolk Highways will be made aware of the date when works are to be carried out.

During this time and after completion, you are responsible for ensuring the area of work is made available for inspection to assess that the crossing is constructed in accordance with our guidance and specification and is in the approved location.

Should the dropped kerb access be different to that agreed, you will be instructed to put it right. The alternative will be that Suffolk Highways will undertake the necessary work and charge you for this.