Dropped kerb planning rejected due to RPA

Another_Level

Gkc79 said

Thank you. I did measured up the distance from the junction and it is more than 10m away which is fine. Do I need council's permission to get the arborist to dig inspection trenches? If you don't mind me asking what sort of cost we are looking at for this? thanks again.

The arborist i called in just surveyed for roots and had him visiting while council contractors dug two trenches.

Council contractors dug the two trenches, 12m X 30 cm x shallow dept  and a council office bod came out to take photos   The trenches were reinstated same day Cost £900+  was much cheaper that estimated.

Section62

Gkc79 said:

Grumpy_chap said: Don't forget that this is LB Sutton with a car-hating administration currently.

The OP's best approach may be to claim the crossover is required to support their purchase of an EV and home charging as it would be unsafe to run a cable across the pavement to a car parked on road.  So long as that does not back-fire and the LA install public chargers right outside the house, which would just add another obstruction to the crossover.

Does the OP definitely need planning permission?  Usually only required for properties on a classified road.

This a cracking idea and we are thinking of getting EV at some point but like you said it might backfire on us going down this route. Thank you for the idea

Actually it is a terrible idea.  Running a cable across the footway to charge an EV on street would be an offence, and pointing out to the HA that you need to have a crossover so you won't commit an offence is likely to elicit a response reminding you what the law is, and pointing out that since you are already aware of the hazard involved you would have very little left in the form of a defence if prosecuted, or perhaps more worryingly, if someone made a civil claim against you in the event of them having an accident.

The HA is not obliged to provide a vehicle crossover to enable off-street charging, and is very unlikely to do so if that could be expected to result in the death of a street tree (kind of self-defeating in CO2 reduction terms).

So if you can't have off-street parking, and the council won't allow an on-street charging point, then by alerting the HA to your intention to otherwise have an illegal charging cable you will stymie yourself in being able to charge an EV at home.

The same goes for any other suggestions which involve illegality - such as damaging either of the trees - they are right outside your home, and having been told you can't have a crossover because of the trees, it will be pretty obvious who is responsible if any harm comes to them.

Gkc79 said:

Do I need council's permission to get the arborist to dig inspection trenches?

Yes.  Excavation in the highway can only be done with the consent of the highway authority, under licence, and/or in exercise of a statutory power.

Realistically there is no point doing this, or having a GPR survey, without the council first agreeing that you could have a crossover if you can demonstrate there are no tree roots which would be affected.  And realistically the prospect of that in this situation is pretty poor. 

Otherwise you'll be throwing money away with no prospect of moving forward. The only other suggestion I would add is whether there are gaps between the trees along the road to the side of the house which would allow side access for off-street parking in either the front or back gardens?

Gkc79

Section62 said:

Gkc79 said:

Grumpy_chap said: Don't forget that this is LB Sutton with a car-hating administration currently.

The OP's best approach may be to claim the crossover is required to support their purchase of an EV and home charging as it would be unsafe to run a cable across the pavement to a car parked on road.  So long as that does not back-fire and the LA install public chargers right outside the house, which would just add another obstruction to the crossover.

Does the OP definitely need planning permission?  Usually only required for properties on a classified road.

This a cracking idea and we are thinking of getting EV at some point but like you said it might backfire on us going down this route. Thank you for the idea

Actually it is a terrible idea.  Running a cable across the footway to charge an EV on street would be an offence, and pointing out to the HA that you need to have a crossover so you won't commit an offence is likely to elicit a response reminding you what the law is, and pointing out that since you are already aware of the hazard involved you would have very little left in the form of a defence if prosecuted, or perhaps more worryingly, if someone made a civil claim against you in the event of them having an accident.

The HA is not obliged to provide a vehicle crossover to enable off-street charging, and is very unlikely to do so if that could be expected to result in the death of a street tree (kind of self-defeating in CO2 reduction terms).

So if you can't have off-street parking, and the council won't allow an on-street charging point, then by alerting the HA to your intention to otherwise have an illegal charging cable you will stymie yourself in being able to charge an EV at home.

The same goes for any other suggestions which involve illegality - such as damaging either of the trees - they are right outside your home, and having been told you can't have a crossover because of the trees, it will be pretty obvious who is responsible if any harm comes to them.

Gkc79 said:

Do I need council's permission to get the arborist to dig inspection trenches?

Yes.  Excavation in the highway can only be done with the consent of the highway authority, under licence, and/or in exercise of a statutory power.

Realistically there is no point doing this, or having a GPR survey, without the council first agreeing that you could have a crossover if you can demonstrate there are no tree roots which would be affected.  And realistically the prospect of that in this situation is pretty poor. 

Otherwise you'll be throwing money away with no prospect of moving forward. The only other suggestion I would add is whether there are gaps between the trees along the road to the side of the house which would allow side access for off-street parking in either the front or back gardens?

Thank you. I think you have raised a very good point about agreeing with council that if I can demonstrate there are not tree roots they would approve my dropped kerb plan. I had a quote from one company on GPR survey and they are very expensive.