Under the Highways Act 1980 it is necessary for anyone wishing to carry out certain functions on the highway to first get written permission to do so from us.
The area of the Highway is as defined on the plans held by us but usually includes the road, the adjacent footway and verges and sometimes other grassed areas nearby.
In order to get permission from us to carry out activities on the Highway, it's usually necessary to obtain some form of licence, permit or consent form and in some cases pay a fee. Written permission from us must be obtained before any work can be carried out.
If any consent involves a road closure (to accommodate a crane lift, for example) then we can arrange for temporary road closures as part of the process. There are statutory procedures which must be followed, with advertising costs of £2,050 to £7,000 (dependent on location).
You can find out about roadworks in your area online. By searching on a street name you will be able to see what works are planned, or have been carried out in that street.
A licence is required to store petrol if the purpose for which petroleum is used is:
‘Retail Petroleum Filling Station’ meaning the premises is used, or intended for use, for dispensing petroleum-spirit to the public for use in motor vehicles, ships or aircraft by way of sale. ‘Non-Retail Petroleum Filling Station’ means premises used, or intended for use, for dispensing petroleum-spirit for use in motor vehicles, ships, but does not include any retail petroleum filling station. ‘Private use’ means the storage and use at a place or site where no person is employed to work.
If you wish to place building materials on any part of the highway a licence is required from us. A licence is not normally necessary if materials are placed on private land. All materials must be placed on private land whenever possible.
For safety reasons, we do not allow building materials to be placed on the highway. Therefore we do not provide licences.
It's illegal to leave building materials or plant (machinery) on the highway without a valid licence. This is an offence under the:
Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976
If you see building materials in the road or have any concerns about the location or safety of materials on the public highway, then please report them immediately using the contact details below and one of our inspectors will go to the site to assess the safety and this will be dealt with accordingly.
The erection of any structure on or over a Public Highway will require a Licence from us before it can be erected.
The need to obtain a Street Works Licence applies to any person or organisation (other than anyone acting under a statutory right) who wishes to place, retain and thereafter inspect, maintain, adjust, repair, alter or renew apparatus, or change its position or remove it from the highway.
Licences are required so that applications for skips to be placed on the public highway comply with the requirements of legislation.
We can grant permission for the placing of private apparatus along, over or across a Public Highway. The private apparatus may be temporary or permanent. Typical examples may be a private telephone cable which spans a street between buildings or a small canopy on a building.
To cultivate the highway land or grass verges and plant various shrubs, plants etc, a licence is required.
