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GPDO 2015 England Permitted Development rules · statutory fees effective 1 April 2026

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Driveways & Parking Schedule 2, Part 1 and Part 2 · Class F / S184

Driveway & Dropped Kerb Rules: Planning Permission and Highways Consent

Paving a front garden and dropping a kerb involve two separate consents. The driveway surface falls under GPDO Part 1 Class F – permitted if it is permeable or drains within your property. The pavement crossing needs the highway authority’s licence under section 184 of the Highways Act 1980, and planning permission too if the road is classified. Check both below.

If PD
£0
Application
£272
Decision
8 wks

Step 1 · Your project

Driveways & Kerbs checker

Driveway surface and drainage

Permeable block paving, gravel and resin-bound (not resin-bonded) are porous. Standard block paving and concrete are not.

Area of new hard surfacing in the front garden
Are you creating or widening a dropped kerb?
What type of road is it?

Classified roads have an A, B or C number. Your council’s highways map or ‘list of streets’ will confirm.

5.2m

Most highway authorities require about 4.8m so a parked car does not overhang the pavement.

Rules reflect the GPDO 2015 (England) for houses. Flats, maisonettes, listed buildings and Article 4 areas have restricted rights. Disclaimer.

Step 2 · Live statutory assessment

No Planning Needed – S184 Highway Licence Required

Class F / S184

The driveway is Permitted Development and the access onto an unclassified road needs no planning permission – but you must apply to the highway authority for the dropped kerb.

  • Surfacing meets Class F – permeable, draining within the property, or 5m² or less.
  • Access onto an unclassified road is covered by Part 2 Class B – no planning permission for the access.
  • Depth 5.2m meets the typical 4.8m highway authority minimum.
  • The dropped kerb itself always needs a section 184 licence from the highway authority, built by an approved contractor.
PLAN VIEW – DRIVEWAY DEPTH & DRAINAGE
UNCLASSIFIED STREET FOOTPATH DROPPED KERB HOUSE CAR 4.4m 4.8m MIN DEPTH DEPTH 5.2m PERMEABLE / SUDS

England fees & timings (from 1 April 2026)

Council application fee

£100–£500

Typical council S184 application fee

Typical kerb works cost

£1,500–£4,000

Approved contractor, varies by width

Decision time

4–12 weeks

Highway authority assessment

Applying online via the Planning Portal adds a £91 service charge (inc. VAT).

Builder & neighbour spec sheet

Export these exact limits and your answers to share with your contractor.

At a glance

Driveways & Kerbs: the statutory limits in England

  • New or replacement hard surfacing over 5m² between the house and the highway must be permeable (porous) or drain to a lawn, border or soakaway within the property.
  • Impermeable surfacing over 5m² that runs off onto the road needs full planning permission.
  • A new vehicle access onto an unclassified road is Permitted Development under Part 2 Class B where it serves PD works – but the kerb still needs a section 184 highway licence.
  • Any new access onto a classified (A, B or C) road or trunk road needs planning permission as well as highway consent.
  • Most councils require around 4.8m depth and 2.4m width so a parked car does not overhang the footway – and only approved contractors can work on the pavement.
  • Driving over a footway without a dropped kerb is an offence and damages the pavement; councils can recover repair costs.

Statutory reference

Legislation summary & 2026 fee table

England statutory planning fees effective 1 April 2026. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland operate different regimes.

GPDO legislation and fee summary for Driveways & Dropped Kerbs
Primary legislation Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 (SI 2015/596), as amended
GPDO Schedule / Part Schedule 2, Part 1 and Part 2
Class Part 1 Class F (hard surfaces) & Part 2 Class B (means of access)
Exact reference GPDO 2015 Sch.2 Pt.1 Class F, F.1–F.2; Pt.2 Class B, B.1; Highways Act 1980 s.184
Standard application fee £272 – Outbuildings, walls, fences & gates
Lawful Development Certificate (proposed) £136 – optional proof the works are lawful
Planning Portal service charge £91 (inc. VAT) if submitted online
Council determination period 8 weeks (planning); 4–12 weeks (S184 licence)
Key exclusions Flats and maisonettes have no Class F rights. Part 2 Class B does not cover access onto a trunk or classified road.

Avoid enforcement

The 3 most common homeowner traps

Trap #1

Assuming block paving is permeable

Standard concrete block paving laid on a compacted sub-base with sand joints is impermeable for Class F purposes. Only purpose-designed permeable block paving on an open-graded sub-base, loose gravel or resin-bound surfacing qualifies. Get the specification in writing from your installer.

Trap #2

Paving first, applying for the kerb later

Highway authorities assess visibility, trees, lamp columns, drains and the 4.8m depth before granting a crossover. Many homeowners pave the garden, then get refused – and driving over an un-dropped kerb is an offence. Apply for the S184 licence first.

Trap #3

Not checking the road classification

Plenty of quiet-looking streets are classified ‘C’ roads. Part 2 Class B only covers access to unclassified roads, so on a classified road you need planning permission too. Check the council’s list of streets before paying for drawings.

Separate legal regimes

Building Regulations vs planning permission

Driveways do not usually need Building Regulations approval, but other controls apply:

Drainage (Part H)
If you connect a channel drain to the public surface-water sewer, Building Regulations and water-company consent apply. Never connect surface water to a foul sewer.
Trees and roots
Excavating near trees protected by a Tree Preservation Order or in a conservation area needs council consent; damaging street-tree roots can sink a kerb application.
Utilities
Scan for gas, water and cable services before digging. Raising or lowering covers in the footway is highway work for an approved contractor only.
Cross-fall and thresholds
Keep the finished surface at least 150mm below the house damp-proof course and fall it away from the building to avoid damp penetration (Part C).

The Party Wall etc. Act 1996 rarely applies to driveways. It is only triggered if you excavate within 3m of a neighbour’s structure and deeper than its foundations (Section 6, one month’s notice) – for example digging a deep soakaway close to an attached garage.

FAQs

Driveways & Kerbs: frequently asked questions

Do I need planning permission for a new driveway?

Not if the surface is permeable or drains into your garden, or if it covers 5m² or less – that is Permitted Development under Class F. Impermeable surfacing over 5m² that runs onto the road needs an application (£272 in England from April 2026). Flats and some conservation areas have no Class F rights.

How much does a dropped kerb cost?

Council application fees typically range from about £100 to £500, and the construction by a council-approved contractor usually costs £1,500–£4,000 depending on width, utility covers and street furniture. You cannot use your own builder on the public footway.

What is the minimum driveway depth for a dropped kerb?

Most highway authorities require about 4.8m from the house (or bay window) to the back of the footway, and around 2.4m width, so the car does not overhang the pavement. Some councils ask for 5m or more; check their dropped-kerb policy.

Is gravel a permeable surface?

Yes. Loose gravel is treated as permeable for Class F. Use edging or a gravel grid to stop stones spreading onto the footway, and avoid a sealed membrane underneath that would prevent water soaking away.

Sources: The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 and amendments (legislation.gov.uk); MHCLG ‘Permitted development rights for householders: technical guidance’; the Town and Country Planning (Fees for Applications…) (England) Regulations 2012 as amended; Building Regulations 2010 Approved Documents; Party Wall etc. Act 1996. Last reviewed 15 October 2026. See our editorial standards and disclaimer.

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