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Hi all,

Earlier this year I put in a request for pre application planning advice for a new garage and driveway. The garage is now probably not going to happen, but I'd still like to put in a single car driveway. The advice for that part came back as follows:

"The proposal also includes the creation of a vehicular access drive; the minimum acceptable dimensions for an open car parking space is 5m length and 2.4m width. Davenport Avenue is a mixture of front gardens with on-street parking, and private driveways. On this basis there may be scope for the creation of a private vehicular access/driveway, which would create the benefit of reducing the need for on-street parking.

However, consideration would also need to be given to the proximity of the junction between Davenport Avenue and Lliffe Avenue, and whether a new access this close to the junction would be detrimental to highway safety. Normally for the creation of a new access there should be sufficient parking and turning space for vehicles to enter and exit the site in a forward gear. This is required to prevent cars reversing onto the road, which can present dangers to others (especially near the junction), including pedestrians. Any subsequent application should therefore include vehicular and pedestrian visibility splays on the plans, in order for this to be considered. Please note this could result in the need to remove much of the front boundary fencing to achieve acceptable visibility for vehicles exiting the drive, which could have an unintended knock-on effect for privacy to the side garden."

So as you can see, lots of issues here, the chief one being visibility. As suggested, I'd have to take my fence down to the required level - about 90cm say to be able to see over - but obviously I don't want to do that unless I have the planning permission. Would the authorities expect the visibility to have been attended to already? Or is there some allowance of time to get the job done in between getting permission and putting in the new drive?

T

If anyone wants to have a look at the property on Google Maps for instance, the postcode is LE2 5HP, No 2. I was intending to move the fence between the front and side garden back to make a larger space for parking. Just to be clear, the other side of the front garden next to No 4 is now raised beds.

The mention of sufficient space to turn around on site and drive out forwards seems a big ask for an end terrace house. Am I wasting my time here?

Thanks for reading - don't know whether this is the right place to ask such questions, but any advice greatly appreciated!

You would need to provide a drawing and details that confirm you can provide the required visibility splays. If acceptable and therefore approved, the works would need to be carried out in accordance with that information. Failing to do so would result in you being in breach of Planning.

Check your Highway’s guidance in relation to access points close to junctions.

Thanks Damian, that's good to know. I've had a good search through the Leicestershire Highways design guide (gather that's what you were referring to?) but I can't find specific info on new accesses near junctions.

OK, just found some pertinent info, on the Leicestershire vehicle access pre application checklist, it asks whether the access is within 10m of a junction - which it wouldn't be, although I guess there is still a chance it could be still considered too close.

Have measured up today, there is just space for 6m wide parking/turning, the new issue it seems is gradient, as the ground slopes up from the road. Apparantly the car may ground on more than a 1 in 20 slope, and I've just measured it and it's more like 1 in 8. So they're unlikely to approve that. I can make it level, but only to 5.25m back, where the path runs along the front of the house (minimum length for parking 5.5m), then there's the question of a retaining wall... major headache.

See if your Highways authority offer a Pre-application service and get that done and agreed before going into Planning with a formal application. After all, they are the ones who would need to be satisfied on highway grounds in light of any future application.

Thanks again Damian, I'll have a look.