Adoption of Private Streets

 

The Council have powers under the Private Street Works Code referred to in Section 205 of the Highways Act 1980, to carry out work in a Private Street to bring it up to an adoptable standard and recover such cost from the frontagers of the street. The Council does not have any such schemes in their programme of works nor are any streets under consideration at the present time.

 

The Council may be prepared to adopt a private street that is brought up to standard by a developer or the residents using the powers contained in Section 228 of The Highways Act 1980. Before undertaking any working in such a street, an approach should be made to ascertain the feasibility of the work, and any site-specific requirements. Payment of the Councils inspection costs and administrative fees will need to be made if the adoption of the street is proceeded with.

 

This usually applies when a new development takes place fronting an existing street, and there is a

Planning requirement for a footway to be constructed on land within the curtilage of the plot adjacent to the boundary of he Highway. Section 72 of the Highways Act 1980 allows the Council to enter into an Agreement with the developer to Dedicate the Land to the Public Highway for the future maintenance to be carried out at Public Expense. The Developer should retain title to the land to be dedicated and not convey it to the frontager. A fee is payable to cover the Council’s costs in drawing up the Agreement and supervision charges. These are assessed on the size and complexity of the scheme.