Who can apply for a dropped kerb 

If you have space to park in your front garden and wish to use the space for a driveway, you will need to apply for a dropped kerb.  

We recommend you check the width of the space in front of your property. It must be at least 2.5 metres wide. This must be within your property boundary and not overlap with a neighbouring property. 

You may already have a driveway or hardstanding.  If you do, it must: 

• be at least 4.8 metres long from the back of the pavement to the front of your property and 2.5 metres wide 
• have suitable drainage so rain does not run from your garden onto the roads 
• be made of a suitable hard surface such as block paving, asphalt or concrete, not loose material or earth 

If you do not have a driveway or hardstanding that meets these criteria, before you start work on it, you must apply for a dropped kerb first. Once your application for the dropped kerb is approved, you can then start work on your driveway or hardstanding.  

Check if you need permission 

In some roads, conservation areas or areas where rain does not drain into the garden naturally you will need to get planning permission before you apply for a dropped kerb.  

If you do not have planning permission, you cannot apply for a dropped kerb: 

• on a classified road 
• if it would lead to a driveway that does not meet drainage requirements  
• if it would cross over a property or boundary wall that is listed 
• if you live in a flat or maisonette.

If you think you need planning permission, contact our Planning department. 

If you’re a private rented or housing association tenant, you will need to get permission from your landlord first.  

If you’re a council tenant, you will need to get permission from the council housing team by emailing occupied-repairs@royalgreenwich.gov.uk.  

If you’re a homeowner or have permission from your landlord or the council, you need to check if you need planning permission.  

If you do not need permission or are given permission, you can request and pay for an inspector to visit to see if you can have a dropped kerb and give a quote. 

How to apply for a dropped kerb 

1. Complete an application for a dropped kerb and pay the non-refundable inspection fee (see dropped kerb costs)
2. We’ll review your application and inspect your property
3. We’ll write to tell you if it has been approved or not 

Apply for a dropped kerb 

If your application is not approved 

If your application is not approved, we’ll write to you to explain why based on our residential vehicle crossover (dropped kerb) policy.  

If you do not agree with this decision, you can request a review by writing to us. You will need to set out why you believe we have not applied our policy criteria correctly. We will investigate and consider your review through our formal complaints procedure.   

We will not review the decision if we reject the application as the measurements of 2.5 metres wide by 4.8 metres deep are not being met.  

If your application is approved 

1. We’ll write to you to tell you and give you a quote. Your permission is valid for 12 months and the quote is valid for 3 months.
2. You can choose to accept and move forward with the quote or choose not to move forward with the application.

If you do not have the driveway and drainage in place  

1. You will need to construct the driveway and drainage.  
2. Once in place, email transportation-admin@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or call us on 0208 921 6600 to ask for a second inspection. 
3. If the driveway and drainage is approved and we’ve received the payment, we’ll raise the works order with the contractor.

If you already have or once you have the driveway and drainage in place 

1. You will need to pay the amount we quoted you within 3 months of getting the quote. 
2. Once we’ve received the payment, we'll raise the works order with the contractor. It can take up to 16 weeks to install the dropped kerb. We will notify you 24 hours in advance.