To ask the Minister for Infrastructure when will the rules regarding dropped kerbs be reviewed to allow residents to be able to park off-road to charge their electric vehicle, particularly those vehicles used by people with limited mobility.

A ‘permitted means of access to a road’ including dropped kerbs, can either be constructed under a Planning Approval, or by consent from my Department under Article 80 of the Roads (Northern Ireland) Order 1993.

Consent under Article 80 applies to unclassified roads such as residential streets and rural roads with low traffic volumes, and enables the alteration of a footway or verge, including the lowering of kerbs, to facilitate the construction of a new access, or alteration of an existing access, where the access complies with ‘permitted development’ conditions onto a road, and where planning permission is not required. Details of the consent process can be found at https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/publications/application-consent-construct-or-alter-vehicular-access

The current approach can be used to make changes to the road network which will enable off-street parking and charging of electric vehicles, including those used by people with limited mobility, and does not need reviewed or amended.