Driveway Advice
How do I get a dropped kerb for a driveway in Portsmouth?
In Portsmouth, applications for a dropped kerb to access a driveway are processed by the council's highway contractor, Colas. Portsmouth City Council says you must apply using the Vehicle Crossover form; the council lists a £66 including-VAT administration fee, while Colas confirms the separate construction charge during the application. You may use a private contractor for the work, but Colas must approve works to the public highway. This is general guidance, so check the current requirements for your property before committing to driveway work.
A dropped kerb and a new driveway are connected but different
A driveway concerns the land within your boundary. A dropped kerb, also called a vehicle crossover, changes the public highway at the pavement edge. Portsmouth City Council directs homeowners to its dropped-kerb application process for access to a driveway, so it is sensible to establish the highway position before finalising a driveway design or booking construction.
What Portsmouth City Council says about the application
The council says Colas processes and manages applications for dropped kerbs to access driveways. Its page links to a Vehicle Crossover application and states an administration fee of £66 including VAT. The same page says the charge for the dropped kerb itself varies and is set by Colas during the application process, so do not treat a general driveway quote as including highway work unless this is stated in writing.
Using a private contractor
Portsmouth City Council says a private contractor can carry out dropped-kerb work, but Colas must approve work to the public highway. Confirm the approval route, scope and responsibility before work begins. A driveway installer should be able to explain which part of the job is private land and which part needs highway approval; that is not the same as claiming approval has already been granted.
Questions to settle before your driveway is built
Ask whether a vehicle crossover application is needed, who is responsible for applying, whether your preferred driveway layout affects access, where rainwater will go, and whether any parking controls or other frontage restrictions apply. Keep the council or highway decision separate from general planning guidance for the driveway surface itself.
Practical next steps
- Read Portsmouth City Council's dropped-kerb guidance and application route.
- Confirm whether your planned access needs a vehicle crossover before finalising the driveway layout.
- Separate the council administration fee, any highway construction cost and the private driveway quote.
- Get approval requirements in writing before public-highway work starts.
- Confirm the driveway drainage design separately from the dropped-kerb process.
| Part of the job | Who controls it | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Driveway inside your boundary | Property owner and chosen installer | Surface, sub-base, drainage and the written scope |
| Dropped kerb / vehicle crossover | Portsmouth City Council process managed by Colas | Application, fees, approval and the approved construction route |
| Work on the public highway | Highway approval is required | Whether Colas or an approved private contractor will carry it out |
Frequently asked questions
- Can I use my own contractor for a dropped kerb in Portsmouth?
- Portsmouth City Council says you can use a private contractor, but Colas must approve work to the public highway. Check the current application instructions before appointing anyone.
- Is the £66 fee the whole dropped-kerb cost?
- No. Portsmouth City Council lists £66 including VAT as the administration fee for processing the form and says Colas sets the construction charge during the application because it can vary.
- Does a dropped-kerb application decide whether my driveway surface needs planning permission?
- No. A vehicle crossover concerns access across the highway. Surface-water drainage and front-garden surfacing can involve separate planning considerations, so check both issues.
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