Licence to work on the highway
Application procedure for section 171 licence
You need this licence to book space on the highway when you wish to carry out minor works such as tree works on private property, installation of private street furniture, use of traffic management and building and re-building boundary walls on or near the highway.
Authorisation for the connection of new drainage to existing highway drainage system will not be granted.
The Licence is issued in accordance with the Highways Act 1980 (Section 171), Road Traffic Act 1984 (Section 65) and Environmental Protection Act 1980 (Section 34).
General information
Our aim is to enable the expeditious movement of traffic on our network. This is a duty placed on local traffic authorities by the Traffic Management Act 2004. The Act requires local authorities to manage their road networks with a view to achieving the objective of securing the expeditious movement of traffic on their road network.
To achieve this, we will need:
- an accurate location of where the works are to take place, including a postcode
- traffic management plans for the proposed works
- to minimise the inconvenience to people using the street, in particular, the needs of people with a disability
- to protect the structure of the street and the integrity of apparatus in it
- the applicant must strictly adhere to the conditions below
Please note: we may impose special conditions
Application fees
The Streetworks Team will be in touch once the fees have been calculated based on your submission details.
- £110 for applications for up to 21 calendar days (15 working days)
- £225 for applications 22 to 42 calendar days in duration (up to 30 working days)
- £458 for application greater than 42 days calendar (Greater than 30 working days)
- an additional £50 per week inspection charge following occupation greater than 49 days
A license is required per street and per activity rather than one application for everything and based upon the duration of the activity.