Dropped Kerbs in Stoke-on-Trent: We Deal With the Council Directly
Stoke-on-Trent is the one authority in our area where you cannot look up the answer. There is no online application form, no published fee and no published specification. What there is, is an email address — and that is where our part of the job starts.
Information correct as of August 2026
Stoke-on-Trent is its own highway authority
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is a separate unitary authority — not part of Staffordshire County Council — covering the ST postcode districts across the Six Towns, including Hanley, Burslem and Longton, and the wider city. If your property is inside the city boundary, Staffordshire County Council's published dropped kerb fees, parking depths and visibility tables do not apply to you.
That distinction catches people out regularly, because Staffordshire County Council publishes a great deal of detail and it is the first thing that comes up in a search. If your property is actually in Stafford, Stone, Newcastle-under-Lyme or the Moorlands rather than the city, see our Staffordshire County Council page instead.
What the council publishes — and what it doesn't
The council's own dropped kerb page is short. It states that the property owner is responsible for the cost, and directs applicants to email Highway.Sales@stoke.gov.uk for an application form and current pricing.
Not published online
- The application fee — no figure is published anywhere on the council's site.
- The decision timescale — no target or typical turnaround is stated.
- The technical specification — no published parking depth, crossing width, visibility distances or construction detail.
- An online application form — the process starts with an email, not a web form.
We are not going to fill those gaps with numbers from another council or from general industry guidance. Where the information does not exist publicly, the honest answer is that it has to be obtained from the council directly for your specific property.
This is where we add the most value
On most councils, our role is to run a process you could in principle navigate yourself. In Stoke-on-Trent, the self-service information simply isn't there — so the value of having an accredited contractor handling it is much more concrete.
- We contact Highway.Sales@stoke.gov.uk directly on your behalf and request the application form and current pricing.
- We ask the council for the current turnaround so your expectations are based on what they actually say, not on guesswork.
- We establish the applicable requirements for your frontage — width, position, construction and any traffic management.
- We survey the frontage and check utility asset records before any excavation is designed.
- We prepare and submit the application, then deal with the council through to a decision.
- We construct the crossing and reinstate to highway specification, including SROH reinstatement standards.
ArcLine Group's accreditations
- NRSWA approved under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
- SWQR registered operatives and supervisors (Streetworks Qualifications Register).
- Comprehensive Public Liability Insurance held for all highway works.
- Verified Checkatrade member — our Checkatrade profile shows a 9.98/10 rating from 17 verified reviews.
Obstacles: hydrants, telegraph poles and utility apparatus
One thing the council does state clearly: where an obstacle such as a fire hydrant or telegraph pole needs relocating to make the crossing possible, that requires separate written permission from the relevant authority — the fire brigade for a hydrant, Openreach or BT for telecoms apparatus — and it is the applicant's responsibility.
In practice this is the single most common cause of both added cost and added delay on city crossings, which is why we look for apparatus at survey stage rather than discovering it once the application is in. Our cost guide explains how apparatus relocation affects a price.
Local government reorganisation — a note for the future
Stoke-on-Trent's own site confirms that the government has agreed to merge Stoke-on-Trent City Council with Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council and Staffordshire Moorlands District Council into a new "North Staffordshire" unitary authority as part of local government reorganisation.
This may affect how highway applications are handled in the future. We are deliberately not speculating on what will change or when — the current process is the one described above, and we will update this page as the position becomes clearer.
Council source: stoke.gov.uk — apply for a dropped kerb.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a dropped kerb cost with Stoke-on-Trent City Council?
Stoke-on-Trent City Council does not publish a fee figure online. Its own page states only that the property owner is responsible for the cost, and directs applicants to email Highway.Sales@stoke.gov.uk for an application form and current pricing. We contact the council directly on your behalf to obtain the current fee before your quote is finalised, rather than estimating a figure or borrowing another council's.
How long does a Stoke-on-Trent dropped kerb application take?
The council does not publish a timescale for vehicle crossing applications. We will not invent one. When we make contact with Highway.Sales@stoke.gov.uk on your behalf we ask for the current turnaround and pass that on to you as part of the enquiry.
Is there an online dropped kerb application form for Stoke-on-Trent?
No. There is no online application form. The council's process is to email Highway.Sales@stoke.gov.uk to request an application form and current pricing. That is one of the main reasons we handle the correspondence for our clients in the city.
Does Stoke-on-Trent City Council publish a technical specification?
Not online. Unlike some neighbouring authorities, Stoke-on-Trent does not publish parking depth requirements, crossing widths or a construction specification on its website. We obtain the applicable requirements from the council directly for your property, and build to highway specification including SROH reinstatement standards.
Is Stoke-on-Trent part of Staffordshire County Council?
No. Stoke-on-Trent City Council is a separate unitary authority covering the Six Towns and the wider city. Staffordshire County Council is the highway authority for the surrounding Staffordshire districts, but it has no role in highway applications inside the city boundary.
What happens if a hydrant or telegraph pole is in the way?
The council states that where an obstacle such as a fire hydrant or telegraph pole needs relocating, separate written permission is required from the relevant authority — the fire brigade in the case of a hydrant, or Openreach/BT in the case of telecoms apparatus — and this is the applicant's responsibility. We identify obstacles like these at survey stage and pursue the necessary permissions on your behalf.