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A. Planning Better Streets

A. Planning Better Streets

Sets the principles for street design at the earliest stages, informing masterplanning, site selection and pre‑application discussions. This section establishes the vision, objectives and policy context to ensure streets support place‑making, movement, safety and long‑term sustainability from the outset.

B. Designing Better Streets

B. Designing Better Streets

Provides detailed design guidance to support full, detailed and Reserved Matters applications. This section translates the overarching principles into layout, alignment, dimensions and place‑based design requirements to create safe, inclusive and well-functioning streets.
C. Delivering Better Streets

C. Delivering Better Streets

Defines the technical specifications, standards and processes required to deliver adoptable, durable and high‑quality streets. This section covers construction, materials, approvals and maintenance to ensure designs are implemented as intended and perform effectively over time.
Detail design for roads and footpaths

5. Vehicle entrances onto roads

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Contents

Vehicle Access to Driveways (Vehicle Crossings)

For vehicles to access driveways from the public road there are two types of entrance, known as a vehicle crossing, depending on the type of vehicle using the driveway: light duty or heavy duty.

For this section, a driveway is either for private residential use or for users of, and deliveries to, warehouses and shops or similar, known as commercial units.

Driveways shall not drain surface water onto public roads and footpaths, including sustainable drainage systems. The maximum gradient shall be 1 in 25 (4%).

Light Duty Crossings

This type of crossing is typically used for single-use driveways used by a small number of cars and not lorries. If a footpath exists, it shall continue uninterrupted in front of the driveway.

The road kerbs as detailed in the Kerbing and concrete section shall be laid 25mm above the edge of the road.

Example vehicle entrance drawing (PDF) is provided as a typical detail for reference only. Scheme-specific versions may be required.

If the vehicle entrance crosses a sustainable drainage system (SuDS) and is designed to drain surface water into the SuDS, the road kerb shall be positioned in reverse with the square edge at the same level as the edge of the road.

Example vehicle entrance with SuDS drawing (PDF) is provided as a typical detail for reference only. Scheme-specific versions may be required.

A footpath edging as detailed in the Kerbing and concrete section shall be laid between the driveway and crossing and set to achieve the maximum gradient of 1 in 25 (4%).

A light duty crossing shall be constructed as detailed in the Road build design section, with the following:

  • A geosynthetic layer over a soft subgrade with less than 1.5% CBR
  • 150mm Type 1 sub-base
  • 100mm binder course (AC20 Dense Binder Course)
  • 25mm surface course (AC6 Dense Surface Course) or 60mm block pavers laid over 30mm laying course

Heavy Duty Crossings

This type of crossing is typically used for multi-use driveways used by a higher volume of cars and lorries.

Driveways which serve a maximum of nine houses or a maximum of one commercial unit may include kerbing to the same requirement as a light duty crossing above, with the crossing depth built to the Road build tables.

Driveways serving more than nine houses or more than one commercial unit shall have kerbing installed as described in the Kerbing and concrete section either side of the crossing, with a sufficient radius to enable lorries to remain on the crossing whilst turning in and out of the driveway.

A channel block shall be used between the driveway and crossing as detailed in the Kerbing and concrete section.

The crossing depth shall be constructed to the Road build tables with a 40mm surface course made of hot rolled asphalt material as detailed in the Road build design section.

Alternatively, the crossing may be constructed with 150mm Type 1 sub-base and 200mm of C40/50 concrete, as detailed in the Road build design section.