Dropped kerb and driveway musings

Soot2006

I recently moved and would like to "tidy" up my front garden and driveway area. It's a v narrow street so no road parking, but many driveways. My new house has a very narrow dropped kerb right next to a utility pole (leading up to a garage). I have to drive over the kerb to put my horsebox on the driveway (i.e. the wheels don't fit into the dropped bit), but there is insufficient space to also fit my car on.



I just want to hear from people who have experience in changing such things! I am a bit clueless.



1) Extend the dropped kerb and the current driveway and maneuver around the pole somehow.

Understand this may be difficult because of the proximity of the utility pole? The pole's existence means that several maneuvers are requires to park or exit the driveway as the road is too narrow for a clean turn. In the dark it's a deathly affair.

In addition, would require building up level of front garden to the driveway height + the removal of a large bush/tree. [others will be planted on the other side to compensate]



2) Move the utility pole (then extend dropped kerb and driveway)

Tbh it's a miracle I haven't hit it with my van yet, but I understanding that asking for it to be moved will be very expensive so that might not be realistic.



3) Getting a second dropped kerb on the other side of the front.

My council requires a minimum 5m between kerbs to a same property. I think we'd be just short of this


4) Moving the driveway/dropped kerb entirely to the other side of the front garden.

i.e. getting the other dropped kerb then building up the old to remove it. The pole and the tree can both live happily ever after; I can park both horsebox + car off road (remember the road is too narrow to park on roadside) ... and I suppose I can convert the garage into a shed (it's too short and narrow for a modern car anyway) ...



Any other ideas? Any clues on which options might be most realistic re council permissions, costs, etc ... Brighton & Hove council.



And finally, who would I speak to locally about my options and possibilities? Driveway contractors? Builders? Highly Maintenance people? Wasn't kidding when I said I was clueless!!!


I *can* live with it as it is, but I'd rather not have to!

Soot2006

Streetview from 2012. Tree is a LOT bigger now
https://ibb.co/98wp9b7

Soot2006

Option 5 - Remove garage and park farther back .... Hmmmmm

General_Applause

Why did you buy a property that is unsuitable for your needs?

markin

Widen the drop its tiny, and roll the box on side by side.

Soot2006

General_Applause wrote: »

Why did you buy a property that is unsuitable for your needs?

Because I can live with it and otherwise love the property. It doesn't upset my day to day, particularly.



But why not investigate changing things to see if I can make it even better?

Soot2006

markin wrote: »

Widen the drop its tiny, and roll the box on side by side.

It is a bit ridiculously small, isn't it? Probably from when the house was first built and cars were narrower!



I read that asking to widen a drop within 1m of street furniture would result in rejection, which takes me back to that BT post which is simply in the way, and doesn't even serve my house.

unforeseen

I can imagine the raised eyebrows in the council if you ask them to widen the dropped kerb for a residential bungalow because it's not wide enough for your horsebox.

keith969

Different councils have different rules over what you can and can't do. And what I've found is they can be 'flexible' over how they interpret those rules. For example mine don't appear to allow two dropped kerbs (for in and out driveways in a single property) but I had no problem getting them to agree to two. A lot depends on the street and what your neighbours have.

I would find out who is you planning officer, your highways officer, go meet them armed with pictures and proposals (but go gently, they are human and will be used to people trying to bamboozle them). Ask them what possible solutions there might be.

Don't even think about moving that pole though !

Soot2006

unforeseen wrote: »

I can imagine the raised eyebrows in the council if you ask them to widen the dropped kerb for a residential bungalow because it's not wide enough for your horsebox.

That's a fair point, although it's a pretty equestrian area. The reason I bought this house despite the driveway compromise (which as I say, I can live with - I don't see anything wrong with trying to ameliorate things though) is because I can see my horses from the property. But you're totally right the driveways here weren't really built for horseboxes (though of course all the big one have enormous campervans or caravans on them so I don't see much difference!).