Vehicle Access And Dropped Kerbs

This is when a kerb is dropped from its normal height and the pavement or verge is strengthened to allow you to access your property safely with a vehicle. Anyone wishing to construct a dropped kerb must obtain prior agreement from Surrey County Council (SCC) as the Highway Authority, for this work affecting the highway and use one of their approved contractors. Full details on making an application are available on Surrey County Council's website.

However, in addition, you will need confirmation from Spelthorne Borough Council (SBC) who are the Local Planning Authority (LPA) whether planning permission is required. If it is, then a planning application will need to be submitted to SBC if not then you will need to submit an enquiry form and fee (see below) to SBC to obtain a letter to confirm. This letter confirming planning permission is not required will need to be submitted with your application to SCC for the works. See more detail below.

Do I need planning permission?

There are certain circumstances when planning permission is required for the creation of a new vehicular access, irrespective of whether the kerb needs to be dropped:

• the access you wish to create is onto/from an A, B or C classified road 
• the property involved is a flat, maisonette, commercial or industrial premises
• there is a planning condition restricting the creation of a vehicular access
• the property is set back from the highway and other land needs to be crossed to gain access.

If any of the above are relevant you will need to apply to Spelthorne Borough Council for planning permission by submitting a householder planning application form  for a householder or a planning application form for a commercial property before getting SCC's approval for the construction work.

If the road is a D classification, and none of the above criteria apply, then you will not need planning permission. Please complete a 'planning enquiry form' and submit it with the relevant fee which can be found on our pre-application advice page for confirmation that planning permission is not required. This letter then needs to be submitted with your application to SCC. 

Where new vehicular access is being created for a Listed Building and alterations to an existing gate, wall, fence or railings are necessary, Listed Building Consent may be required.