Street Works Licence

Statutory Undertakers

Utilities such as BT, Transco and Thames Water are known as Statutory Undertakers because they have a "statutory right" by central government to excavate in any public highway under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

What utilities are required to do

Before a utility commences work, they are required to serve notice on the highway authority. This does not constitute permission, but acts as a coordination tool to allow the highway authority to “use their best endeavours to coordinate the execution of the works”. This is done in the interests of safety, to minimise the inconvenience to persons using the street and to protect the structure of the street and the integrity of the apparatus in it.

The length of notice required ranges from two hours to at least one month, depending on the types of works.

Street Works Licence

The right to excavate the highway can be extended to any private individual, developer or contractor on application to the Highway Authority for a Street Works Licence, which grants temporary authority to excavate the highway during the duration of those works.

Failure to apply for a licence before starting any works, is an offence under the Highways Act 1980 and the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. Any breach of this requirement may result in prosecution with the full recovery of all costs involved and removal of any equipment installed during those works.

All Street Works Licences granted are subject to the legislation requirements of the New Roads and Street Works 1991 and its associate Codes of Practice.

How to Apply

Please read the guidance notes for applicants in the attached files section below.

• Apply online for a streetworks licence, or
• Download and print attached application form

Attached Files

Filename	Filetype	Size
new roads and street works act streetworks licence application.pdf	PDF	901K
guidance notes for applicants.pdf	PDF	21K
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