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Planning Advice and Queries

How to apply for a dropped kerb

If you wish to install a dropped kerb at your property there are two things you need to do. 

  1. Check with Cherwell District Council (the Local Planning Authority) whether Planning Permission is required for the works. 

  2. Apply to Oxfordshire Highways Authority for permission to do the works.  

Step 1 - Cherwell District Council 

To enquire as to whether Planning Permission is required for the work, you will need to complete a Vehicle Access Enquiry Form. The form is designed to help you give us the information we need to enable us to tell you whether the work will require Planning Permission or not. 

We will need to know two things: 

  1. Whether the road to which the access or dropped kerb is to be installed is a ‘Trunk’ or ‘Classified road’. This information is available on the Oxfordshire County Council highways register.
  2. Whether the work is associated with any other improvements, such as the laying or improving of hardstanding, or the widening of a wall or fence opening to improve access, or any other alteration or improvement to the property. 

Once you have the information noted above, please complete and submit it on a Vehicle access enquiry form.

When we receive your Form, we will aim to respond within 10 working days. 

If we advise that you do not require Planning Permission, then you can proceed to step 2 below.

If we advise that you do require Planning Permission, then follow the advice given in our response to you. You can submit an application for FULL Planning Permission on the Planning Portal.

Step 2 – Oxfordshire Highways Authority 

Please note: Oxfordshire Highway Authority will require proof that you have made the enquiry as set out at step 1 and will require a copy of our response to you before they give you final permission to drop the kerb.

They have their own procedure you will need to follow (regardless as to whether you need Planning Permission from Cherwell District Council or not).

More details, including fees and their application form can be found on the Oxfordshire Highways dropped kerbs webpage.