Apply for a dropped kerb or vehicle access

A dropped kerb or vehicle access enables you to drive from the road across a pavement or verge to reach your driveway.

Driving across a footway or verge without permission from the Highway Authority is an offence under the Highways Act 1980 (Section 184). This is to protect the highway, footpaths, and any underground utilities from damage.

Before you apply for a dropped kerb or vehicle access, please ensure you have read the application for a dropped kerb guidance and meet the following criteria:

• Safety Requirements: Ensure the proposed crossing location meets the necessary safety criteria.
• Trees in the Area: Identify any trees within one metre of the proposed location, as this may affect construction.
• Utility Equipment or Street Furniture: Check if any utility installations or street furniture (e.g., lamp posts, bins) are within one metre of the proposed access, as these may restrict the works.

You can proceed with your request to apply for a dropped kerb or vehicle access by:

• requesting Lincolnshire County Council construct the access, or
• hiring a third-party contractor to carry out the work on your behalf

Lincolnshire County Council construction

If you would like Lincolnshire County Council to construct your vehicle access, we will handle the entire process from application to completion.

If you choose this option, please be aware that we will construct the highway area of works only and not any works required on private property and will only construct new accesses in tarmac (and not concrete or block paving) so that this meets our specification.

What you need to provide

• Property measurements: You will need to supply the distance from the footway or verge to the boundary of your property.
• Road classification: Confirm the type of road your property is on (A, B, or C). You can find this information on the Find My Street website.
• Owner's consent: If you live in a rented or social housing property, you must provide written authorisation from the property owner.
• Drainage board approval: If the proposed access impacts a ditch or watercourse, you must provide proof of consent from the local drainage board.
• Planning permission: Where planning is required, obtain this in advance and have the planning permission reference number and digital copies of your supporting documentation ready to submit.

Process

We will review your application once it is submitted and provide you with a quote for the construction work. Please be aware that the initial quotations provided on our application are based on the standard width of an access (2.75m or three centre kerbs), variations to this will be quoted accordingly.  

After the work is completed, the vehicle access becomes the responsibility of Lincolnshire County Council.

Fees

• New light-duty application: £250
• Removal of existing kerb: £114
• Estimated construction cost: £2,500 to £3,000 (the final price will be based on your property’s specific requirements)

Please note that we do not provide quotes for heavy-duty accesses under this service.

These fees are reviewed annually and may be subject to change.

Apply for a dropped kerb or vehicle access

To find out how we use your data, read our privacy notice.

Once your application is received, we will respond within ten working days.

For further guidance, you can contact us at vehiclecrossings@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

Third-Party contractor construction

You or the contractor can apply to have a third-party contractor construct the vehicle access for you.

If you have not yet hired a contractor, we provide a directory of approved contractors who are permitted to work in Lincolnshire.

What you need to provide

• Financial: Funding evidence when application made by district council or local housing authority
• Road Classification: Confirm the type of road your property is on (A, B, or C) using the Find My Street website.
• Planning Permission: Obtain this in advance and have the planning permission reference number and digital copies of your supporting documentation ready to submit.
• Owner's Consent: For rented or social housing properties, provide written consent from the property owner.
• Site Plan: Submit a digital copy of a site plan that clearly shows the location of the proposed vehicle access.
• Drainage Board Approval: If the access impacts a ditch or watercourse, you must submit proof of consent from the local drainage board.
• Contractor and Traffic Management Details: Provide the contact details for the contractor carrying out the work and the traffic management company. You will also need to supply:
  • A copy of the contractor’s public liability insurance (minimum £10 million cover).
  • Proof of NRSWA accreditation (New Roads and Street Works Act) for all operatives working on the project.

Fees

• New light-duty or domestic access: £457
  • permission to reinstate an existing access
  • extensions to light duty access that exceed two metres
• New heavy-duty or commercial access: £912
  • extensions to heavy-duty accesses that exceed two metres
  • light duty access which includes culvert installations
• Field or temporary access: £228
  • like-for-like alterations to existing accesses (such as resurfacing)
  • extensions to existing accesses up to two metres
  • We will check that the work meets the required standard once it is complete
  • You are liable for the quality of the work for two years. After that, we will maintain it

Please be aware that fees are reviewed annually and may change.

If your application is rejected for failing to meet the required criteria, refunds will not be issued, although exceptions may be made in rare circumstances.

Applications must not be submitted with proposed start dates within the next 21 days, or with start dates more than 90 days in advance.

Apply for a dropped kerb or vehicle access

Once your application is submitted, we will respond within ten working days.

For advice or additional information, contact us at vehiclecrossings@lincolnshire.gov.uk.

Directory of contractors

These contractors are accredited to work within the highway. They have previously carried out dropped kerb construction in Lincolnshire.

These contractors can provide quotes for dropped kerb works and are aware of our standards and specifications. Please be aware that these contractors are not affiliated with or approved by us.

Vehicles driving over a footway or verge

If a vehicle is repeatedly driven across a footway or verge to access private property, without a constructed access, this may be considered an illegal crossing.

This is an offence under Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980 and a person who knowingly and repeatedly does so, is liable for a fine.

You can report this to us if you are aware that this is happening and if it is causing damage to the footway or verge.

Once you have submitted a report, we will check our records to ensure the access has been given permission. Where permission has not been granted, we will assess the situation and may contact the resident or property owner to arrange for a retrospective application.

Report an illegal crossing