Getting a dropped kerb in East Sussex
The driveway is yours. The kerb is not. Across East Sussex, including Hastings and Rother, the dropped kerb is approved by East Sussex Highways and built by one of their approved contractors. Your driveway is separate private work.
Who approves
East Sussex Highways
Who applies
You do
Who builds the crossing
An approved contractor
The order it goes in
Step 1
Check the planning position
Use the three questions above. If planning permission is needed, get it before applying for the crossing.
Step 2
Apply to East Sussex Highways (phase 1)
The homeowner makes the vehicle crossover application. Read their guidance and criteria first.
Step 3
Approved contractor builds the crossing (phase 2)
If the licence is granted, a contractor from East Sussex Highways' approved list builds the dropped kerb.
Step 4
We build the driveway on your land
We set the entrance, levels and drainage to match the approved crossing. Rainwater stays on your land, not on the road.
Official sources
- East Sussex Highways: vehicle dropped crossing (S184) guidance (opens in a new tab)
- East Sussex Highways: criteria for assessing applications (opens in a new tab)
- Hastings Borough Council: planning advice on vehicles (opens in a new tab)
- Rother District Council: dropped kerbs planning advice (opens in a new tab)
Questions people actually ask
Who applies for a dropped kerb in East Sussex?
The homeowner. East Sussex Highways runs a two-phase process: phase 1 is the vehicle crossover application, made by the homeowner. If it is approved, phase 2 is the construction, carried out by a contractor from East Sussex Highways' approved list.
Who can build the dropped kerb?
Work across the pavement must be done by a contractor on East Sussex Highways’ approved list. Check this before booking the crossing. The private driveway on your land is separate work, set to line up with whatever the highway licence approves.
How much does it cost?
East Sussex Highways publishes its current licence, inspection and application fees on its own website. The crossing construction is priced separately by the approved contractor. We don't quote council fees because they can change.
Do I need planning permission as well?
Sometimes. East Sussex Highways asks three questions: does the access join an A, B or C road; is the property in a conservation area; and will rainwater run off the drive instead of staying on your land? If you answer no to all three, it says planning permission should not normally be needed. If in doubt, check with your borough or district council first — Hastings Borough Council or Rother District Council.
Can I just drive over the kerb, or drop it myself?
No. The pavement and kerb are public highway. Owners who want to drive over a footpath or verge to reach private parking must apply for a licence, and the crossing has to be built to highway standards.
Related
Worth reading
- Why driveways sink, and whose fault it is
Four causes, and how to tell which one you've got from the shape of the failure — plus when a lift and relay fixes it and when the whole drive has to come up.
Includes: how to lift one block and check your own sub-base depth
Fees and rules are set by the councils and can change. Always check East Sussex Highways (opens in a new tab) before you commit money.