What is minimum vehicle access width to a single dwelling?

[tolska]

I have a small piece of land (.6 hectares / 1.5 acres) going down to a small river. This land will soon be sandwiched between two new housing developments so would make an ideal site for a single 'infill' dwelling.
The legal access to the land is between two existing houses (and their back gardens).
This access is 2.75 metres / 9 foot wide. Once on the land it opens up and there would be plenty of space for vehicle turning.
Fire engines in this area are 2.3 metres.
Is it feasible that planning would be granted on the land?

I know absolutely nothing about this subject so any advice you can give me will be most welcome.

 

[noseall]

The legal access to the land is between two existing houses (and their back gardens).
This access is 2.75 metres / 9 foot wide.

From a Highways point of view, they will be interested in the ingress/egress, across the public footpath and the views of oncoming traffic and pedestrians in each direction etc.

 

[tolska]

That's an interesting point I hadn't though of, noseall. Although the access is within a 'new' housing estate and is the legal access to the land. There is an existing dropped curb.

 

[noseall]

That's an interesting point I hadn't though of, noseall. Although the access is within a 'new' housing estate and is the legal access to the land. There is an existing dropped curb.

Sounds like you are most of the way there. Is there a school close by?

 

[tolska]

Yes. Several first & secondary schools nearby.

 

[oldbutnotdead]

You could do with finding your local councils' planning policy docs relating to your area. One trap might be length of driveway- up here they dislike more than 25 metres from road to dwelling. Apart from that the width is adequate, as long as you own the land up to pavement (or have a vehicular right of way over that land) and traffic splays etc are good (already having a dropped kerb is a plus) then access shouldn't be a showstopper.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You should look up Part B fire engine appliance access, distances and width and turning circles. What local authority or (rough) postcode are you?

 

[tolska]

Thanks for your help. Wychavon. WR11.

 

[foxhole]

Have seen an estate built where it was reported on the news that the fire brigade complained they could not attend a fire as the access was too narrow , around 6 properties in a cul de sac.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

The gist of fire appliance access is as follows:

Minimum road width between kerbs 3.7m
Minimum width of gates 3.1m
Minimum clear height 3.7m
Minimum carrying capacity 12.5 tonnes.
If the route from the road to the house is more than 20m then a turning circle of 16m is required, the turning circle is 16.8m between kerbs, 19.2m between walls.

But there may well be some negotiation or mitigation (like fitting sprinklers) with the fire service, it's wise to employ a fire engineer to handle the negotiation. The reality is they would probably be able to drive up a narrower driveway and would just reverse out but your proposals need approval in anycase.

https://assets.publishing.service.g...on_incorporating_2020_and_2022_amendments.pdf section B5 page 97 (of the pdf) onwards

 

[tolska]

The gist of fire appliance access is as follows:

Minimum road width between kerbs 3.7m
Minimum width of gates 3.1m
Minimum clear height 3.7m
Minimum carrying capacity 12.5 tonnes.
If the route from the road to the house is more than 20m then a turning circle of 16m is required, the turning circle is 16.8m between kerbs, 19.2m between walls.

But there may well be some negotiation or mitigation (like fitting sprinklers) with the fire service, it's wise to employ a fire engineer to handle the negotiation. The reality is they would probably be able to drive up a narrower driveway and would just reverse out but your proposals need approval in anycase.

https://assets.publishing.service.g...on_incorporating_2020_and_2022_amendments.pdf section B5 page 97 (of the pdf) onwards

Thanks for your info & link. My access (between houses) is only 2.75m but there is plenty of room for a turning circle once on the site.

 

[clifford1]

A full-size fire engine couldn't get down our lane because of its width, overhanging trees and tight corners, let alone through the gates.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Why is that relevant to a new house build?

 

[clifford1]

Because if someone else wanted to build a house in our lane they would find the road too small for big fire engines?
.
It didn't seem to be a problem for the cottage built 10 years ago, which suggests it is not a rule, just a recommendation.
Nor, interestingly, are insurance companies interested in fire engine access or abundant water supply.