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Permission to Construct a Crossing For Vehicles Across a Footway or Grass
Verge.
It is illegal under Section 184 of the Highways Act 1980 to drive a vehicle from
the public highway across the footway and grass verge and into a private
property without written permission from the Council. If you have a garage or
hard-standing within your property, there is a requirement under the Act for the
provision of a properly constructed vehicle crossover.
Permission From the Planning Department
Not all properties are permitted to have a crossover and approval is subject to
various requirements which are all detailed on the application form. If the
proposed crossover leads onto an important classified road, you will first need
to obtain planning permission. Planning permission may be required in any event
if other building works are required such as a garage. If planning permission is
required a fee will be payable. To find out if you need planning permission for
your crossover.
Permission From the Highway Authority
Once you have obtained planning permission for the crossover you then need to
make arrangements for the crossover proposal to be assessed and agreed by the
Local Council's Highway Management Unit. A Highway Inspector will arrange to
meet you on site and discuss the proposed crossover. The Inspector will look at
the location of the crossover with respect to safety, existing street furniture
and the space you have inside your property for turning etc. He will advise you
about how big the crossover needs to be and what works will be required. If the
Inspector thinks it is possible for you to have a crossover he will issue you
with an information pack which gives a list of approved contractors who are
accredited to work on the Highway and will suggest you obtain quotations for the
work to be carried out. You or your contractor also need to indemnify the
Council to the sum of £5,000,000 against all actions and claims arising from the
construction of the crossover, and proof of this cover must be sent in to us.
Oatmor Harris Have £10,000,000 cover in respect of its public liability.
Inspection of the Construction Work
Once permission has been given by the Inspector and work starts on site, it
needs to be inspected at various stages during the construction period. A fee of
£72.00 (KCC only) will be charged by the Council to cover the cost of these
inspections plus further charges if the work is carried out outside normal
working hours and our inspector needs to inspect during the evenings or at
weekends.
Other Information
All the other requirements you need to adhere to are detailed in the pack you
will receive from the Inspector and he will explain what you need to do when he
meets you on site.
If you have an existing crossover and you have increased the size of your garage
or hard standing, the crossover will need to be extended accordingly. This is to
prevent possible damage to the adjacent footway or verge due to the increased
turning movements of vehicles. Again you need to adhere to the same procedure as
for a new crossover. It is a good idea to apply for permission to extend an
existing crossover before doing any work to increase the size of your garage or
hard standing.
If you live in rented accommodation you still need to go through the same
procedure as someone living in their own property.
Don't forget that before you do this you must contact the Planning Department
and make sure you do not need planning permission first.
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