Updated July 2026
In short
Neighbours don’t get a formal veto the way they might with planning — the decision is the highway authority’s, based on road safety and highway rules. But a genuine safety, access or shared-boundary issue they raise can still count.
Worried a neighbour might block your dropped kerb — or wondering if you can object to theirs? Here’s how it actually works.
It’s a highway decision, not a planning vote
A dropped kerb is granted under Section 184 by the highway authority, judged mainly on road safety and highway suitability — not on neighbour approval. There’s no formal public-objection process like a planning application, so a neighbour can’t simply “object” and stop it.
When a neighbour’s concern can still matter
- It creates a genuine safety or visibility problem.
- It affects shared access or a right of way.
- It would remove on-street parking the authority wants to protect — some councils weigh this.
Shared drives and boundaries
If the crossing or drive touches a shared boundary or access, sort it out with your neighbour early — far smoother than a dispute later. Several of our Nottingham jobs have been shared crossings that ended up benefitting both houses.
The bottom line
Focus on whether the crossing meets the highway rules — that’s what decides it. We’ll assess yours and handle the application. Ask us if a shared boundary is involved.
Want it sorted properly?
We install council-approved dropped kerbs across Nottingham & Nottinghamshire — and handle the whole Section 184 application for you.
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