Dropped kerb and paving next to Toucan (pedestrian) crossing

sky11

Hello,

I am having problem getting planning permission for dropped kerb with front garden paving for parking due to having a toucan on busy highway position equally shared with my semi-detached neighbours house. I know there are h&safety issues allowing parking close to a Toucan and crossing highways but my neighbours house is divided into flats (multiple occupancy) and he has a dropped kerb since house build approx 100yrs ago and has paving front and rear of house. I'd like some guidance how highway dept look at existing drop kerbs access close to toucans and saying that without history of accident, they won't allow another dropped kerb next to touchan.
Thanks for any guidance.

zildjian09

i work for my local authority in the traffic department and i deal with the highways issues of planning applications.

unfortunately you will probably never get planning permission for a dropped kerb so close to a toucan crossing. the fact that your neighbour has had a dropped kerb for many years is irrelevant, as the guidances and policies are constantly changing and future permissions cannot be taken into account when they are so many years old.

the reason you will not get permission is because movements around this crossing poses serious safety concerns, especially if you would need to reverse off your driveway.

have you got a rear entrance to your house where a driveway could go? it looks like that will be the only way you could overcome ths. if not, i doubt you will ever get permission for a dropped kerb.

sky11

Hello Zildjian09

Many thanks for your reply. I fully agree pedestrian safety is very important so do I need to prove that there is sufficient space in the driveway to turn car and drive out in forward gear? Do highway take into consideration the width of highway, the visiblity in/out driveway and the frequency of usage of Toucan crossing?

Thanks