Dropped kerb in Hampshire: the rules and fees
Hampshire County Council charges £211.90 to apply and wants a parking space at least 4.8 m deep and 2.4 m wide. The fee is not refunded. Fast Track decision in two weeks, if you want it: £97. The crossing must be at least 10 m from a junction (15 m on a classified road), with nothing above 0.6 m beside the opening.
Read from Hampshire County Council’s own pages on 11 October 2026. Hampshire, except the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton, which are their own highway authorities. The district and borough councils decide planning.
- Fee: Hampshire County Council charges £211.90 to apply, not refunded; Makes the total £308.90.
- Space: a parking space at least 4.8 m deep and 2.4 m wide, 6 m deep in front of a garage with outward-opening doors.
- Junctions: at least 10 m from a junction (15 m on a classified road).
- Who builds it: Hampshire lets you hire your own qualified contractor.
- Decision: Standard: a site inspection and decision within eight weeks. Fast Track: within two weeks, for an extra fee.
Hampshire’s rules, one by one
| Rule | What Hampshire asks | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Depth of the space | At least 4.8 m deep by 2.4 m wide inside the boundary, at right angles to the pavement; 6 m in front of a garage with doors that open outwards. No relaxations. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, room for parking; garage with outward-opening doors |
| Width of the space | At least 2.4 m wide. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, room for parking |
| The crossing it builds | The standard is 4 low kerbs and 2 sloping kerbs, about 5.4 m along the kerb, reduced to 3 low kerbs if needed; about 3.7 m wide at the back edge, 2.75 m at least. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, width of crossing |
| Distance from a junction | No part of the crossing within the radius kerb, or within 10 m of a junction, traffic signals or a roundabout (15 m on a classified road). | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, proposed access |
| Walls and hedges beside the opening | The visibility areas must be clear, with plants and walls kept below 600 mm. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, visibility |
| Street trees | The root protection zone is a circle with a radius of 4 times the trunk circumference at about 1.5 m; a crossing inside it is refused. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, trees, shrubs and plants |
| Street lights | Street lights, signs, bus stops and other furniture in the crossing area have to be moved where possible, at your cost. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, site suitability |
| Other street furniture | Utility covers, cabinets and poles: you arrange and pay for any changes with the owner first. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, utilities |
| Slopes | No crossing is approved if its gradient would exceed 1 in 12. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, cambers and gradients |
| Pedestrian crossings | The crossing area must be free of parking restrictions such as a pedestrian crossing, a disabled bay or pay and display; these are unlikely to be removed, so the application would most likely be refused. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, parking restrictions and traffic calming |
| Parking bays and laybys | A pedestrian crossing, disabled bay, pay and display or other restriction at the site is unlikely to be removed, so the application will most likely be refused; yellow lines are unlikely to matter. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, parking restrictions |
| Traffic calming | Speed humps, crossings and build-outs may have to be moved at your cost; in Home Zones they cannot be changed. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, traffic calming |
| Grass verges | A crossing over a highway verge can be refused for loss of green space; the council’s judgement here is not reviewed on appeal. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, soft verge |
| A second crossing | One crossing per property; a second only in exceptional cases with a clear safety benefit. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, second crossings |
| Turning space on classified roads | On a classified road the car must be able to turn within the property and leave in forward gear. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, classified roads |
| Gates | Gates must open inwards. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, room for parking |
| Drainage | Surface water must not run from the property across the highway. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, crossing details |
| Loose gravel | Loose material within 1 m of the road or footway must be held back; a paved strip helps. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, crossing details |
| Permission from the owner | Tenants need the landlord’s written permission; crossing private land needs the landowner’s. | HCC pre-application checklist, Checklist, property ownership |
What it costs in Hampshire
| What you pay | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Application fee | £211.90 | HCC application page |
| Fast Track decision in two weeks (optional)Makes the total £308.90. | Optional, £97 | HCC application page |
| Building the crossingYour own contractor quotes for the works and the Section 171 licence. | quoted for your site | HCC application page |
Hampshire lets you hire your own qualified contractor. After approval you appoint a contractor with £10 million public liability insurance and New Roads and Street Works Act accredited staff, who must hold a Section 171 road opening licence for your address; see the licence before work starts.
Applying, and what happens next
- Standard: a site inspection and decision within eight weeks. Fast Track: within two weeks, for an extra fee.
- Approval is valid for 12 months and is not extended.
- A refusal letter gives the reasons. The fee is not refunded, including for the Fast Track service.
Planning permission in Hampshire
The highway consent and planning permission are separate. Nationally, an access on to an unclassified road and a porous or drained hard surface are permitted development for a house; Hampshire adds:
- Hampshire refuses a crossing on to an A, B or C road without proof of planning permission. (HCC pre-application checklist)
- It advises asking the planning authority about impermeable hard standing, conservation areas, listed buildings, flats and maisonettes, non-domestic access and removed permitted development rights. (HCC application page)
Also worth knowing in Hampshire
- Fees rose on 1 April 2026; applications made before then were not affected. (HCC application page)
- Crossings on unadopted roads need no approval from the council. (HCC application page)
Questions
Does Hampshire refund the fee if it refuses?
No. The £211.90 is not refunded, so check the frontage against the rules first.
Can I use my own contractor in Hampshire?
After approval you appoint a contractor with £10 million public liability insurance and New Roads and Street Works Act accredited staff, who must hold a Section 171 road opening licence for your address; see the licence before work starts.
How long is a Hampshire approval valid?
Approval is valid for 12 months and is not extended.
Related
- Check your driveway in 3DEvery rule for your council, in 3D.
- Dropped kerb rules comparedDepth, width, splays, junctions, trees.
- What it costsFees from £55.06 to £500, and the works.
- Surrey rules and fees£383 to apply, a space 4.8 m deep.
- Kent rules and fees£500 to apply, a space 4.8 m deep.
- Bristol rules and fees£357 to apply, a space 4.8 m deep.
Sources: Hampshire County Council, Apply for a vehicular access; Hampshire County Council, Dropped kerb pre-application checklist; all read on 11 October 2026. National rules: Highways Act 1980, s.184, GPDO 2015, Part 2 Class B and Part 1 Class F. legislation.gov.uk and GOV.UK content is used under the Open Government Licence v3.0; council figures are quoted as facts with their source, not copied text. Not legal advice and not a decision: the council decides after its own site visit. Not affiliated with any council or government department.