Dropped kerb on a Victorian terraced house, typical of Stony Stratford

Dropped kerbs in Stony Stratford

How dropped kerbs work in Stony Stratford, what Milton Keynes City Council charges and requires, and how we build the driveway to meet it.

Book a free visit Call 01908 104408

In Stony Stratford, a dropped kerb needs permission from Milton Keynes City Council before any work touches the footway. You apply as the homeowner (£237), then your contractor — who must hold an NRSWA street works qualification and public liability insurance — takes out a Private Opening Licence (£537) and builds it under council inspection.

Highway authority: Milton Keynes City Council
Council fees: £237 residential application, plus £537 for the contractor’s Private Opening Licence
Who builds it: Your own contractor with an NRSWA street works qualification and public liability insurance
Timescale: Licence valid for 6 months; 24-month maintenance period after

Council fees checked October 2026. See Milton Keynes City Council’s own guidance.

How it works in Stony Stratford

Getting a dropped kerb approved in Stony Stratford

Step 1You apply to Milton Keynes City Council and pay the £237 residential fee. The council visits and assesses the site.
Step 2Once approved, your contractor applies for a Private Opening Licence (£537), which covers up to five inspections and the completion certificate.
Step 3The crossing is built to the council’s specification within six months of the licence and inspected as it goes.
Step 4Your contractor carries a 24-month maintenance period on the crossing; any defects found at inspection are put right at their cost.

The rules

What Milton Keynes City Council looks for

Nothing can be done on the footway or verge before permission — working on the highway without it is an offence under the Highways Act 1980.
The council looks at visibility, the verge, street lights, trees and services on its site visit.
The fee is non-refundable, so it is worth checking the basics with us before you apply.

Stony Stratford specifically

Ground, drainage and conservation in Stony Stratford

Most Stony Stratford homes we see have short Victorian frontages and estate drives, which usually leaves room for a hardstanding of at least 5.0m by 2.5m that Milton Keynes City Council asks for. We measure it at the visit, before you pay any council fee.

The town sits low beside the Great Ouse on limestone and Lias beds, with river deposits near the water. Groundwater can sit high close to the river, so permeable surfaces need a properly drained sub-base and soakaways need testing.

Stony Stratford Conservation Area covers the old town. Its review asks for historic brick and stone plot walls to be kept and discourages close-boarded fencing and metal railings. There is no Article 4 direction in force on householder works.

The Great Ouse forms the western edge of the town, and Milton Keynes City Council’s 2024 flood risk assessment records river flooding affecting properties in Stony Stratford — Victorian growth deliberately avoided the flood-prone north and east sides. You can check any address on the Environment Agency flood map.

Sources: Stony Stratford Conservation Area review.

Where we come in

What we do

We can build the crossing ourselves here: we hold the NRSWA street works qualification the council asks for. We give you what you need for the application, take out the Private Opening Licence, and build the crossing and the drive behind it as one job.

A measured drawing of the access and front garden
Advice on width, visibility and space before you pay any fee
The driveway or hardstanding behind the crossing
Levels tied into the crossing, not left as a step
Drainage so water stays off the footway
A five year guarantee on our work, in writing

Questions

Dropped kerbs in Stony Stratford: questions

How much does a dropped kerb cost in Stony Stratford?

The council’s own fees in Stony Stratford are £237 residential application, plus £537 for the contractor’s Private Opening Licence. The works themselves depend on the length, the kerbs and any services or street furniture in the way, and we price them in your fixed proposal alongside the driveway.

Who can build a dropped kerb in Stony Stratford?

Your own contractor with an NRSWA street works qualification and public liability insurance. We can build the crossing ourselves here: we hold the NRSWA street works qualification the council asks for. We give you what you need for the application, take out the Private Opening Licence, and build the crossing and the drive behind it as one job.

How long does a dropped kerb take in Stony Stratford?

Licence valid for 6 months; 24-month maintenance period after. The crossing itself is usually a day or two on site; the approval is the long part, so start it early.

Do I need planning permission for a dropped kerb in Stony Stratford?

If your house is on an A, B or C road, yes — planning permission comes before the highway application. Parts of Stony Stratford are in a conservation area, where changes to front boundaries need more care.

What rules does my driveway have to meet in Stony Stratford?

Nothing can be done on the footway or verge before permission — working on the highway without it is an offence under the Highways Act 1980. The council looks at visibility, the verge, street lights, trees and services on its site visit. The fee is non-refundable, so it is worth checking the basics with us before you apply.

Do you cover Stony Stratford?

Yes. We work across Stony Stratford (MK11) and nearby areas including Galley Hill, Fullers Slade, Deanshanger, Calverton, Passenham, Old Stratford. The visit is free.

Also in Stony Stratford

The driveway behind it

Planning a dropped kerb in Stony Stratford?

We will look at the frontage, check it against Milton Keynes City Council’s rules before you pay any fee, and price the driveway and crossing in one written proposal.

Book your free visit Call 01908 104408