Dropped kerb in Havering: the rules and fees
London Borough of Havering charges £261 to apply and wants a parking space at least 4.8 m deep and 2.4 m wide. The fee is not refunded. The crossing must be at least 10 m from a junction.
Read from London Borough of Havering’s own pages on 11 October 2026. Havering, except Transport for London’s red routes. The borough is also the planning authority.
- Fee: London Borough of Havering charges £261 to apply, not refunded.
- Space: a parking space at least 4.8 m deep and 2.4 m wide, 4.6 m if the space is 3 m wide.
- Junctions: at least 10 m from a junction.
- Who builds it: Havering builds the crossing itself.
- Decision: The council inspects and sends a quote with an estimated timescale; standard crossings are installed within 16 weeks of the application, those funded for disability within 4 to 6 weeks of approval.
Havering’s rules, one by one
| Rule | What Havering asks | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Depth of the space | The off-street space must be 2.4 m wide by 4.8 m deep inside the property; with at least 3 m of width the depth can drop to 4.6 m at the very least. There must be clear access to the front door. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.10.1(a) |
| Width of the space | At least 2.4 m wide. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.10.1(a) |
| The crossing it builds | The standard is 4.5 m along the kerb: two 0.9 m ramp kerbs and 2.7 m of dropped kerb, cut to 4.2 m (2.4 m dropped) only where the site forces it. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.10.1(d) |
| Distance from a junction | Not approved within 10 m of a junction, or where it affects a width restriction, island, refuge, pinch point or the zig-zags of a crossing. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.12.1 |
| Street trees | Street trees are not removed, except on an arboricultural report; the precautionary area is 4 times the girth at 1.5 m, and all tree costs fall on you. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.13 |
| Street lights | A lamp column should be at least 1.5 m from the foot of the transition kerb; a move goes to the street lighting team and is refused if it cannot be done. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.14 |
| Other street furniture | At least 0.45 m from the base of a telegraph pole, cable or BT cabinet or other furniture on the footway. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.16.3 |
| Bus stops | Near a bus stop with a block-paved footway, likely refused. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.12.2 |
| Pedestrian crossings | Not approved where it affects the zig-zag markings of a crossing. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.12.1 |
| Parking bays and laybys | Footway parking bays are removed; in a controlled parking zone, or where parking stress is high, a loss of on-street parking is generally refused. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.15 and 3.18 |
| Grass verges | Crossings needing significant construction across wide grass verges or amenity areas are refused. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.4.2 |
| A second crossing | Refused where a reasonable rear or side access already exists; a new crossing must be at least 2.7 m from an existing one or join it at your expense. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.12.3 and 3.17 |
| Fast roads | Not approved on a street with a posted limit of 40 mph or more. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.12.1 |
| Drainage | Water must drain to a garden area or a channel, not on to the highway; refused without adequate drainage. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.11 (Highways Act 1980, s.163) |
| Permission from the owner | The landowner or freeholder must consent in writing; council housing land needs the housing officer’s written approval. | LBH policy 2023, Policy, 3.3 |
What it costs in Havering
| What you pay | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Application feeCovers up to three site visits. | £261 | LBH application page |
| Building the crossingThe council quotes after the inspection; the online form has an estimate calculator. | quoted for your site | LBH application page |
Havering builds the crossing itself. Only the council and its approved contractor build crossings in the borough; a kerb dropped by anyone else is removed at your expense.
Applying, and what happens next
- The council inspects and sends a quote with an estimated timescale; standard crossings are installed within 16 weeks of the application, those funded for disability within 4 to 6 weeks of approval.
- Quotes are valid for 3 months; after that a new application and fee are needed.
- Refusal reasons are given in writing; appeals go through the council’s complaints process.
Planning permission in Havering
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; Havering adds:
- Havering’s policy says planning approval is needed on a classified road, in a conservation area, for a listed building, and for a flat or maisonette; its website lists the roads that need it. (LBH policy 2023)
Also worth knowing in Havering
- Where a disability makes a crossing necessary, Adult Services may fund it. (LBH policy 2023)
Questions
Does Havering refund the fee if it refuses?
No. The £261 is not refunded, so check the frontage against the rules first.
Can I use my own contractor in Havering?
Only the council and its approved contractor build crossings in the borough; a kerb dropped by anyone else is removed at your expense.
How long is a Havering approval valid?
Quotes are valid for 3 months; after that a new application and fee are needed.
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.
- Waltham Forest rules and fees£475 to apply, a space 4.8 m deep.
- Hertfordshire rules and fees£139 to apply, a space 5 m deep.
- Kent rules and fees£500 to apply, a space 4.8 m deep.
Sources: London Borough of Havering, Apply for a dropped kerb; London Borough of Havering, Domestic Vehicle Dropped Kerb Policy (April 2023); 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.