Dropped kerb questions - Money Saving

riverboat2001

I have a driveway and a dropped kerb, which i assume is an official one.
I would like my dropped kerb extended, as we are on a bend and a larger drive would make getting in and out much safer.
Would the council be likely to approve it on safety grounds?

Also the house next door to me has been repossessed (dropped by 40k and still not sold, been on market about 6 months!) anyway the EA is marketing it as having a driveway with car parking for three cars......but they don't have a dropped kerb!

I could apply for mine on my own, but if we do eventually get new neighbours, would the council be likely to do the job for less money if two neighbours apply?

annie123

My friend has a large house with a very wide plot all round. Her council only allow the width needed to get a car in and out safely. She had the same in a previous property but different council. Might be worth a call to yours to enquire.

Re the EA and OSP, let them or trading standards know, no drop kerb means that it should be described as a paved front garden. I was an EA for many years and we tested OSP if the seller wanted more than 2-3 cars, just in case.

Cash-Cow_3

riverboat2001 wrote: »

I have a driveway and a dropped kerb, which i assume is an official one.
I would like my dropped kerb extended, as we are on a bend and a larger drive would make getting in and out much safer.
Would the council be likely to approve it on safety grounds?

Also the house next door to me has been repossessed (dropped by 40k and still not sold, been on market about 6 months!) anyway the EA is marketing it as having a driveway with car parking for three cars......but they don't have a dropped kerb!

I could apply for mine on my own, but if we do eventually get new neighbours, would the council be likely to do the job for less money if two neighbours apply?

The council may well be flexible in allowing the widening. They will look at whether the widening would conflict with other things such as moving closer to another junction or if it is too close to a street light column. If you are on a classified road you will need a planning application.

tanith

A lot of councils will only allow the work done by council nominated companies, my daughters cost £800

R-o-b-b-i-e

riverboat2001 wrote: »

I could apply for mine on my own, but if we do eventually get new neighbours, would the council be likely to do the job for less money if two neighbours apply?

Absolutely no chance!

Innys

tanith wrote: »

A lot of councils will only allow the work done by council nominated companies, my daughters cost £800

You're daughter was lucky. I just had mine done (admittedly in Surrey) and the cheapest I could find from a council nominated firm was £1,100, plus VAT!

steveing64

I had mine made bigger about two months ago put the forms in to council 5 days later bloke came told him what i wanted and he said no problems as the house opposite had made theres bigger got a quote for the council to do it £580 which i though was good He did say if i got a private company in i would need to get it inspected by council when finished they charge me £75 to come and inspect it, then i was held responsible for the upkeep if it needed repaired etc , But if they did it i was not so three days :)later was done (stoke on Trent Council) and they made a good job.

ormus

ive done three different houses, (inc my MIL house) and never applied for permission.
never heard anything from any councils.

last one cost me about 100 quid. total.

dropped kerbs is just another money making scam by local councils.

john-306

Had mine extended last year, £750 for additional 2 kerbs dropped and 1 sloping one, I did ask the folks who did the drive who said a couple of years ago the could get a licence and do it for a couple hundred pounds, but the council stopped it and would only allow council itself to do the job.
I enquired about cost but by then they had my name and address and i was concerned they would be keeping an eye on it if i got anyone else to do the job