Chocblock

Thanks for your advice. Yes, I believe our property boundary extends to the highway. Does anyone know if there are any other reasons why planning permission would be required? Would taking down a section of 5ft-high wall and replacing with an internal sliding gate need planning permission?

The Highways chap who did the drop kerb site survey was of the same opinion.

According to my deeds the green strip is a utility strip - and the "utility strip forms part of the highway". Planners made no suggestion who owns it, they just claimed I did not know - and went ahead with the pre-application without asking.

Yes, I already have an entrance at the front - it's just for another entrance at the back.

Thanks for the reply. At the point of invoice, the Highways chap said he was unaware of this particular planning requirement - and passed me on to planners for further clarification

Yes, I'm hoping I don't need planning permission - but I'm not 100% sure as I'm no expert. Planners haven't got back to me at all since September so I'm not sure why they are taking so long. A call to the local councillor is a good shout if it drags on much more. Thanks.

I have been granted drop kerb approval for a second entrance to the rear of my property by Highways. However, at the final invoice stage, Highways informed me they were told I needed planning permission – despite the council saying I did not at the start of the process. The access is on to a red brick cul-de-sac on an estate, which is an unclassified road. I would need to remove a 10ft section of 5ft-high wall for the new access. On a pre-application, planners have said I need permission because I “seek to cross land which does not form part of the highway nor your domestic cartilage”. However, according to my property deeds, the two-metre strip of land I need to cross from my boundary to the red brick road is a utility strip. And according to the deeds, the “utility strip forms part of the highway”. So I do not need “to cross land which does not form part of the highway nor my domestic cartilage”. In the pre-application, planners “do not raise any significant concerns at this stage”. I have supplied the utility strip/verge information with supporting documents to planners, but more than three months on, I am still waiting for an answer. Any thoughts/opinions/advice welcome. Thank you.