About street works licences
When you need a street works licence
If you or your organisation want to carry out work on a public highway, you need a street works licence. It’s also known as a Section 50 Licence.
This requirement does not apply to anyone acting under a statutory right.
Any of the following on-street activities constitute street works and require a licence:
- placing apparatus
- retaining apparatus
- inspecting apparatus
- repairing apparatus
- altering apparatus
- changing the position of apparatus
- removing apparatus
Excavation work
We can grant highway excavation as part of a street works licence to any:
- street works accredited developer
- street works accredited contractor.
This grants the applicant temporary authority to excavate the highway during the licenced works.
Failure to apply
It's an offence to start street works without a licence under the Highways Act 1980 and the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
Any failure to comply with this requirement may result in:
- prosecution, including full recovery of our costs
- removal of any apparatus or equipment
All street works licences are subject to the requirements of the New Roads and Street Works 1991 and its codes of practice.
For enquiries about specific street works, contact the utility company direct.
To find out which utility company is carrying out works, search or enquire about roadworks in the borough.