2. Can I create a new vehicular access and/or hard-standing?

Vehicular Access

A crossing across a public footpath or verge for your vehicle to gain access to your property from the highway is known as a dropped kerb, crossover or vehicle crossing.

It must be built to specific standards and approved by your council and in some cases planning permission is also required.

Unfortunately, we are unable to confirm whether you need planning permission via email or telephone.

If you are unsure, you can apply to the council for a Certificate of Lawfulness (Proposed Development) to confirm whether planning permission is needed. If permission is required, you will need to submit a separate planning application. See FAQ 1.

You will need either planning permission or confirmation that permission is not required (Certificate of Lawfulness) to present to Kent Highway Services.

You will need to contact Kent Highway services (KHS) to apply and obtain their permission for a dropped kerb once you have the above document from us.  

Hard-standings

Specific rules apply for homeowners wishing to pave over their front gardens.

You will NOT need planning permission in the following scenarios:

If a new/replacement driveway:

• Uses permeable (or porous) surfacing which allows water to drain through, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or
• if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain

You WILL need planning permission:

• if the surface to be covered is more than five square metres for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not control rainwater running off.

More information can be found on the Planning Portal- Planning permission - Paving your front garden - Planning Portal.

*Hard-standing guidance does not include the dropped kerb/access. If you need both hard-standing AND a dropped kerb you need to consider both sets of guidelines.