The two routes side by side
| Council route | Private licensed contractor | |
|---|---|---|
| Who applies | Property owner, online | Property owner, with the contractor dealing with the council |
| Who builds it | The council's own arrangements | A contractor holding the Opening Up licence |
| Price | Council's site-specific quote | Contractor's quote, plus any council charges |
| Timing | Council's schedule | Can be planned around the drive build |
| Standard | Council specification | Must meet the council specification |
| Main risk | Waiting time | Contractor not actually licensed |
Based on Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council's guidance on applying for a driveway crossing.
The council route, step by step
- Measure your frontage. You need enough depth to park without overhanging the footway.
- Apply online to Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council as the property owner.
- Site assessment. The council checks visibility, street furniture, trees and the road type.
- Quote. If the crossing can be approved, you receive a price.
- Pay and wait for the work to be scheduled.
- Build the drive so it meets the back of the new crossing.
The private route, step by step
- Find a contractor who says they hold Stockton's Opening Up licence, and ask to see it.
- Confirm with the council if in doubt. The council's guidance gives careforyourarea@stockton.gov.uk for licence queries.
- Agree a quote that includes the crossing specification and any council charges.
- The contractor arranges the necessary notices and permissions and builds the crossing.
- The drive and crossing can be built in one visit if the timing works.
Things that catch people out
- A Section 50 licence is not the same thing. Stockton's Section 50 licence, at £500 for new apparatus and £250 for repairs, is for other street works and does not cover driveway crossings (Section 50 licences).
- Ramps are not allowed. The council says that putting ramps or materials in the street to cross a kerb is illegal.
- Building the drive first. If the crossing is refused, the drive is unusable. Apply first.
- Classified roads. A crossing onto a classified road can need planning permission as well.
Typical costs
UK averages put a new dropped kerb at about £1,800 and a widening at about £1,100 (Checkatrade), with MyJobQuote estimating around £2,000 for a typical job (MyJobQuote). Stockton's actual price depends on the site. See the cost guide for the drive itself.
Which should you choose?
- Choose the council route if you want the simplest process and are not in a hurry.
- Choose a licensed private contractor if you want the crossing and drive done together, and you have checked the licence.
Either way, read our main page on dropped kerbs in Stockton first.
Common questions
Is the council route cheaper?
Not necessarily. Prices depend on the site. Compare the council's quote with a licensed contractor's.
Can my driveway firm just do the kerb?
Only if they hold the council's Opening Up licence.
Who owns the dropped kerb once it is built?
The kerb and footway remain part of the public highway.
Does the council publish a fixed price?
No. Stockton gives site-specific quotes for driveway crossings.