Dropped kerbs in Bromley: how crossovers work

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If you want to park on your front garden, you need a way to get the car across the pavement legally. This guide summarises what Bromley Council says about dropped kerbs, which it calls vehicle crossovers. It is a summary only: always read the council's current policy and guidance before applying, as rules and fees can change.

Why you need a crossover

Bromley Council's website states that there is no right to drive across a public footway to reach a private driveway unless there is a properly built vehicle crossover, citing section 184 of the Highways Act 1980. It also states that crossovers can only be constructed by the council, because it is responsible for roads and pavements. That means we cannot build your dropped kerb, but we can build the driveway behind it.

The council's steps

Check planning. The council notes that planning permission is needed for front garden hard-standing over 5 square metres unless it is porous or drains to a permeable area. It also says planning permission is required for flats and maisonettes, and for homes on the classified road network.
Apply. You fill in the council's crossover application form with a sketch of the proposed crossover, showing nearby trees, lamp columns, signs and inspection covers. The council takes a non-refundable administration fee; the current amount is on its website.
Site visit and quotation. Council officers inspect the site. If the application succeeds, you receive an approval letter with a quotation for building the crossover.
Payment and work. If you accept, you pay the council in advance. The council says your drive must be built before it arrives to construct the crossover.

Important: do not start too early

The council says not to carry out any works to your property before you receive its letter approving the crossover. If you are planning a new resin driveway with a new crossover, apply to the council first, then book the driveway work once you have approval. If you are not the registered freeholder, the council says you need the owner's permission for the crossover and the hard-standing.

Front garden planning in more detail

Government guidance on front gardens says you do not need planning permission for a new or replacement driveway of any size if it uses permeable (porous) surfacing, or if rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally. Covering more than 5 square metres of front garden with an impermeable surface that drains onto the road does need planning permission. Resin bound surfacing only lets water through if the layer underneath does too. Laid over sound tarmac or concrete, the water still has to go somewhere, so we plan the falls and drainage at survey. If your home is listed or in a conservation area, check with the council before starting, as rules can be tighter.

Where we come in

Once you have approval, we can survey the front garden, plan levels so the drive meets the crossover properly, and lay a resin bound driveway on a suitable base. If you already have a dropped kerb and just want to replace the drive, see driveway resurfacing.

Source: London Borough of Bromley, Access to your drive: crossovers (dropped kerbs), and GOV.UK guidance on the permeable surfacing of front gardens.

Common questions

Can you build my dropped kerb?

No. In Bromley, the council builds vehicle crossovers itself. We can build the driveway once the council has approved the crossover.

Should I lay the driveway before applying for a dropped kerb?

No. Bromley Council says not to start work before you receive its approval letter. It also says the drive must be built before it constructs the crossover.

Do I need planning permission for a dropped kerb in Bromley?

The council says planning permission is needed for flats and maisonettes, for homes on classified roads, and for impermeable front garden hard-standing over 5 square metres. Check its guidance for your case.

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