Law

Highways Act 1980

United Kingdom · statute

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In force since 2026-09-14, as the publisher states.

Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.

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Contents: 449 provisions
  1. Title and introductory text
  2. 1 Highway authorities: general provision.
  3. 2 Highway authority for road which ceases to be a trunk road.
  4. 3 Highway authority for approaches to and parts of certain bridges.
  5. 4 Agreement for exercise by Ministeror strategic highways company of certain functions of local highway authority as respects highway affected by construction, etc. of trunk road.
  6. 5 Agreement for local highway authority to maintain and improve certain highways constructed or to be constructed by Ministeror strategic highways company.
  7. 6 Delegation etc. of functions with respect to trunk roads.
  8. 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  9. 8 Agreements between local highway authorities and strategic highways companies for doing of certain works.
  10. 9 Seconding of staff etc.
  11. 10 General provision as to trunk roads.
  12. 11 Local and private Act functions with respect to trunk roads.
  13. 12 General provision as to principal and classified roads.
  14. 13 Power to change designation of principal roads.
  15. 14 Powers as respects roads that cross or join trunk or classified roads.
  16. 14A Designation of first GLA roads by Secretary of State.
  17. 14B Orders of the Authority changing what are GLA roads.
  18. 14C Certification and records of GLA roads.
  19. 14D Construction of provisions relating to GLA roads.
  20. 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  21. 16 General provision as to special roads.
  22. 17 Classification of traffic for purposes of special roads.
  23. 18 Supplementary orders relating to special roads.
  24. 19 Certain special roads and other highways to become trunk roads.
  25. 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  26. 21 Extinguishment of rights of statutory undertakers as to apparatus etc. in connection with orders under section 14 or 18 and schemes under section 16.
  27. 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  28. 23 Compensation in respect of certain works executed in pursuance of orders under section 14 or 18.
  29. 24 Construction of new highways and provision of road-ferries.
  30. 25 Creation of footpath , bridleway or restricted byway by agreement.
  31. 26 Compulsory powers for creation of footpaths , bridleways and restricted byways.
  32. 27 Making up of new footpaths , bridleways and restricted byways.
  33. 28 Compensation for loss caused by public path creation order.
  34. 29 Duty to have regard to agriculture, forestry and nature conservation.
  35. 30 Dedication of highway by agreement with parish or community council.
  36. 31 Dedication of way as highway presumed after public use for 20 years.
  37. 31A Register of maps, statements and declarations.
  38. 32 Evidence of dedication of way as highway.
  39. 33 Protection of rights of reversioners.
  40. 34 Conversion of private street into highway.
  41. 35 Creation of walkways by agreement.
  42. 36 Highways maintainable at public expense.
  43. 37 Provisions whereby highway created by dedication may become maintainable at public expense.
  44. 38 Power of highway authorities to adopt by agreement.
  45. 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  46. 40 Adoption of private streets.
  47. 41 Duty to maintain highways maintainable at public expense.
  48. 42 Power of district councils to maintain certain highways.
  49. 43 Power of parish and community councils to maintain footpaths , bridleways and restricted byways.
  50. 44 Person liable to maintain highway may agree to maintain publicly maintainable highway.
  51. 45 Power to get materials for repair of publicly maintainable highways.
  52. 46 Supplemental provisions with respect to the getting of materials under section 45.
  53. 47 Power of magistrates’ court to declare unnecessary highway to be not maintainable at public expense.
  54. 48 Power of magistrates’ court to order a highway to be again maintainable at public expense.
  55. 49 Maintenance of approaches to certain privately maintainable bridges.
  56. 50 Maintenance of privately maintainable footpaths and bridleways.
  57. 51 No liability to maintain by reason of enclosure if highway fenced with consent of highway authority.
  58. 52 Power to get materials for repair of privately maintainable highways.
  59. 53 Power of magistrates’ court to extinguish liability to maintain privately maintainable highway.
  60. 54 Extinguishment of liability to maintain privately maintainable highway diverted by order of magistrates’ court.
  61. 55 Extinguishment of liability to maintain or improve bridges comprised in trunk roads and special roads.
  62. 56 Proceedings for an order to repair highway.
  63. 57 Default powers of highway authorities in respect of non-repair of privately maintainable highways.
  64. 58 Special defence in action against a highway authority for damages for non-repair of highway.
  65. 59 Recovery of expenses due to extraordinary traffic.
  66. 60 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  67. 61 Regulations supplementing maintenance powers of district councils.
  68. 62 General power of improvement.
  69. 63 Relief of main carriageway of trunk road from local traffic.
  70. 64 Dual carriageways and roundabouts.
  71. 65 Cycle tracks.
  72. 66 Footways and guard-rails etc. for publicly maintainable highways.
  73. 67 Guard-rails etc. in private streets.
  74. 68 Refuges.
  75. 69 Subways.
  76. 70 Footbridges over highways.
  77. 71 Margins for horses and livestock.
  78. 72 Widening of highways.
  79. 73 Power to prescribe improvement line for widening street.
  80. 74 Power to prescribe a building line.
  81. 75 Variation of widths of carriageways and footways.
  82. 76 Levelling of highways.
  83. 77 Alteration of levels.
  84. 78 Cutting off of corners.
  85. 79 Prevention of obstruction to view at corners.
  86. 80 Power to fence highways.
  87. 81 Provision of highway boundary posts.
  88. 82 Provision of cattle-grids and by-passes.
  89. 83 Removal of cattle-grids and discontinuance of by-passes.
  90. 84 Maintenance of cattle-grids and by-passes.
  91. 85 Exercise of powers by agreement between neighbouring authorities.
  92. 86 Supersession of gates by cattle-grids.
  93. 87 Agreements for use of land for cattle-grids or by-passes.
  94. 88 Contributions towards expenditure of highway authorities.
  95. 89 Delegation to certain authorities of functions of Minister.
  96. 90 Protection of bridges and railways.
  97. 90A Construction of road humps by highway authority.
  98. 90B Additional powers of the Secretary of State.
  99. 90C Consultation and local inquiries.
  100. 90CA Special procedure for certain road humps in London.
  101. 90D Regulations concerning construction and maintenance of road humps.
  102. 90E Status of road humps.
  103. 90F Meaning of “road hump” and interpretation of sections 90A to 90E.
  104. 90G Powers to carry out traffic calming works.
  105. 90GA Special procedure for certain traffic calming works in London.
  106. 90H Prescribing of works.
  107. 90I Status of works authorised by section 90G.
  108. 91 Construction of bridge to carry existing highway maintainable at public expense.
  109. 92 Reconstruction of bridge maintainable at public expense.
  110. 93 Power to make orders as to reconstruction, improvement, etc., of privately maintainable bridges.
  111. 94 Powers of highway authorities and bridge owners to enter into agreements.
  112. 95 Supplemental provisions as to orders and agreements under sections 93 and 94.
  113. 95A Power to install equipment for detection of traffic offencesetc.
  114. 96 Powers of highway and local authorities to plant trees, lay out grass verges, etc.
  115. 96A Duty of local highway authorities in England to consult before felling street trees
  116. 97 Lighting of highways.
  117. 98 Delegation of lighting functions of highway authority.
  118. 99 Metalling of highways.
  119. 100 Drainage of highways.
  120. 101 Power to fill in roadside ditches etc.
  121. 102 Provision of works for protecting highways against hazards of nature.
  122. 103 Provision of posts to indicate depth of flood water.
  123. 104 Mitigating nuisance of dust.
  124. 105 Power to improve road-ferries.
  125. 105ZA Interpretation
  126. 105A Screening of projects for constructing or improving highways
  127. 105AA Exemptions
  128. 105AB Publication of screening decisions: projects not to be subject to an environmental impact assessment
  129. 105B Publication of screening decision and environmental statement for projects subject to an environmental impact assessment
  130. 105BA Co-ordination
  131. 105C ... EEA States.
  132. 105CA Conclusion about environmental impact of a project for constructing or improving a highway
  133. 105CB Decision about whether or not to proceed with a project subject to an environmental impact assessment
  134. 105CC Timing of conclusion and decision
  135. 105CD Publication of conclusion and decision
  136. 105D Validity of decisions
  137. 106 Orders and schemes providing for construction of bridges over or tunnels under navigable waters.
  138. 107 Provisions supplementary to section 106.
  139. 108 Power to divert navigable watercourses.
  140. 109 Provisions supplementary to section 108.
  141. 110 Power to divert non-navigable watercourses and to carry out other works on any watercourse.
  142. 111 Interpretation of Part VI.
  143. 112 Provision of picnic sites and public conveniences for users of trunk roads.
  144. 113 Exercise by council of functions of Ministeror a strategic highways company with respect to management or provision of picnic sites etc.
  145. 114 Provision of public conveniences by county council for users of roads for which they are the highway authority.
  146. 115 Provision of areas for parking heavy goods vehicles, etc.
  147. 115A Scope of Part VIIA.
  148. 115B Provision etc. of services and amenities by councils.
  149. 115C Provision of recreation and refreshment facilities by councils.
  150. 115D Limits of powers under ss. 115B and 115C.
  151. 115E Execution of works and use of objects etc. by persons other than councils.
  152. 115F Power to impose conditions on permissions under section 115E.
  153. 115G Notices to be given before exercise of powers under Part VIIA.
  154. 115H Duties to consult or obtain consent of other authorities.
  155. 115J Consents not to be unreasonably withheld.
  156. 115K Failure to comply with terms of permission.
  157. 116 Power of magistrates’ court to authorise stopping up or diversion of highway.
  158. 117 Application for order under section 116 on behalf of another person.
  159. 118 Stopping up of footpaths , bridleways and restricted byways.
  160. 118A Stopping up of footpaths , bridleways and restricted byways crossing railways.
  161. 118B Stopping up of certain highways for purposes of crime prevention, etc.
  162. 119 Diversion of footpaths , bridleways and restricted byways.
  163. 119A Diversion of footpaths, bridleways and restricted byways crossing railways.
  164. 119B Diversion of certain highways for purposes of crime prevention, etc.
  165. 119D Diversion of certain highways for protection of sites of special scientific interest.
  166. 119E Provisions supplementary to section 119D.
  167. 120 Exercise of powers of making public path extinguishment and diversion orders.
  168. 121 Supplementary provisions as to public path extinguishment and diversion orders.
  169. 121B Register of applications.
  170. 122 Power to make temporary diversion where highway about to be repaired or widened.
  171. 123 Saving and interpretation.
  172. 124 Stopping up of private access to highways.
  173. 125 Further powers to stop up private access to premises.
  174. 126 Provisions supplementary to sections 124 and 125 etc.
  175. 127 Stopping up private access to premises by agreement.
  176. 128 Penalty for using access which has been stopped up.
  177. 129 Further provisions with respect to new means of access.
  178. 129A Gating orders
  179. 129B Effect of gating orders
  180. 129C Procedure for gating orders
  181. 129D Validity of gating orders
  182. 129E Publication and availability of gating orders
  183. 129F Variation and revocation of gating orders
  184. 129G Interpretation
  185. 130 Protection of public rights.
  186. 130A Notices to enforce duty regarding public paths.
  187. 130B Orders following notice under section 130A.
  188. 130C Section 130B: procedure.
  189. 130D Section 130B: costs.
  190. 131 Penalty for damaging highway etc.
  191. 131A Disturbance of surface of certain highways.
  192. 132 Unauthorised marks on highways.
  193. 133 Damage to footways of streets by excavations.
  194. 134 Ploughing etc. of footpath or bridleway.
  195. 135 Authorisation of other works disturbing footpath , bridleway or restricted byway.
  196. 136 Damage to highway consequent on exclusion of sun and wind.
  197. 137 Penalty for wilful obstruction.
  198. 137ZA Power to order offender to remove obstruction.
  199. 137A Interference by crops.
  200. 138 Penalty for erecting building, etc., in highway.
  201. 139 Control of builders’ skips.
  202. 140 Removal of builders’ skips.
  203. 140A Builder’s skips: charge for occupation of highway.
  204. 141 Restriction on planting of trees etc. in or near carriageway.
  205. 142 Licence to plant trees, shrubs, etc., in a highway.
  206. 143 Power to remove structures from highways.
  207. 144 Power to erect flagpoles etc. on highways.
  208. 145 Powers as to gates across highways.
  209. 146 Duty to maintain stiles etc. on footpaths , bridleways and restricted byways.
  210. 147 Power to authorise erection of stiles etc. on footpath or bridleway.
  211. 147ZA Agreements relating to improvements for benefit of persons with mobility problems.
  212. 147A Road-side sales.
  213. 148 Penalty for depositing things or pitching booths etc. on highway.
  214. 149 Removal of things so deposited on highways as to be a nuisance etc.
  215. 150 Duty to remove snow soil etc. from highway.
  216. 151 Prevention of soil etc. being washed on to street.
  217. 152 Powers as to removal of projections from buildings.
  218. 153 Doors etc. in streets not to open outwards.
  219. 154 Cutting or felling etc. trees etc. that overhang or are a danger to roads or footpaths.
  220. 155 Penalties in connection with straying animals.
  221. 156 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  222. 157 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  223. 160 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  224. 160A Further powers of highway authorities and district council in relation to highways.
  225. 161 Penalties for causing certain kinds of danger or annoyance.
  226. 161A Danger or annoyance caused by fires lit otherwise than on highways.
  227. 162 Penalty for placing rope, etc. across highway.
  228. 163 Prevention of water falling on or flowing on to highway.
  229. 164 Power to require removal of barbed wire.
  230. 165 Dangerous land adjoining street.
  231. 166 Forecourt abutting on streets.
  232. 167 Powers relating to retaining walls near streets.
  233. 168 Building operations affecting public safety.
  234. 169 Control of scaffolding on highways.
  235. 170 Control of mixing of mortar etc. on highways.
  236. 171 Control of deposit of building materials and making of excavations in streets.
  237. 171A Works under s. 169 or s. 171: charge for occupation of the highway.
  238. 172 Hoardings to be set up during building etc.
  239. 173 Hoardings to be securely erected.
  240. 174 Precautions to be taken by persons executing works in streets.
  241. 175 Liability of certain persons in respect of materials left on highway.
  242. 175A Duty to have regard to needs of disabled and blind in executing works, etc.
  243. 175B Consent of highway authority required for trunk road access
  244. 176 Restriction on construction of bridges over highways.
  245. 177 Restriction on construction of buildings over highways.
  246. 178 Restriction on placing rails, beams etc. over highways.
  247. 179 Control of construction of cellars etc. under street.
  248. 180 Control of openings into cellars etc. under streets, and pavement lights and ventilators.
  249. 181 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  250. 182 .
  251. 183 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  252. 184 Vehicle crossings over footways and verges.
  253. 185 Power to install refuse or storage bins in streets.
  254. 186 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  255. 187 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  256. 188 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  257. 189 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  258. 190 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  259. 191 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  260. 192 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  261. 193 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  262. 194 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  263. 195 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  264. 196 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  265. 197 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  266. 198 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  267. 199 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  268. 200 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  269. 201 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  270. 202 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  271. 203 Interpretation of Part XI.
  272. 204 Purposes and application of private street works code and advance payments code.
  273. 205 Street works in private streets.
  274. 206 Incidental works.
  275. 207 Provisional apportionment of expenses.
  276. 208 Objections to proposed works.
  277. 209 Hearing and determination of objections.
  278. 210 Power to amend specification, apportionment, etc.
  279. 211 Final apportionment and objections to it.
  280. 212 Recovery of expenses and charge thereof on premises.
  281. 213 Power for limited owners to borrow for expenses.
  282. 214 Financial provisions.
  283. 215 Exemption for place of public religious worship.
  284. 216 Certain railways and canals not to be chargeable with expenses.
  285. 217 Objections only to be made as provided by private street works code.
  286. 218 Saving for Thames Water Authority and Port of London Authority.
  287. 219 Payments to be made by owners of new buildings in respect of street works.
  288. 220 Determination of liability for, and amount of, payments.
  289. 221 Refunds etc. where work done otherwise than at expense of street works authority.
  290. 222 Sums paid or secured to be in discharge of further liability for street works.
  291. 223 Determination to cease to have effect when plans not proceeded with.
  292. 224 Certain matters to be local land charges.
  293. 225 Interest on sums paid under advance payments code.
  294. 226 Power to vary width of carriageway and footway on making up a private street.
  295. 227 Widening of highway comprised in private street.
  296. 228 Adoption of private street after execution of street works.
  297. 229 Power of majority of frontagers to require adoption where advance payment made.
  298. 230 Urgent repairs to private streets.
  299. 231 Compensation for damage caused by execution of street works.
  300. 232 Power to treat as a private street land designated for purposes of this section by development plan.
  301. 233 Appeal to Minister under private street works code.
  302. 234 Provisions as to private street in area of more than one street works authority.
  303. 235 Evasion of private street works expenses by owners.
  304. 236 Contribution by street works authority to expenses of street works.
  305. 237 Power of street works authority to grant charging order.
  306. 238 Interpretation etc. of Part XII.
  307. 239 Acquisition of land for construction, improvement etc. of highway: general powers.
  308. 240 Acquisition of land in connection with construction, improvement etc. of highway: further general powers.
  309. 241 Acquisition of land between improvement line and boundary of street.
  310. 242 Acquisition of land for execution of works in connection with certain bridges.
  311. 243 Acquisition of land for cattle-grids etc.
  312. 244 Acquisition of land for road-ferries.
  313. 245 Acquisition of land for buildings etc. needed for discharge of functions of highway authority.
  314. 245A Acquisition of land by Secretary of State , strategic highways company or Assembly for buildings etc. needed for traffic management purposes
  315. 246 Acquisition of land for mitigating adverse effects of constructing or improving highway.
  316. 247 General provision as to acquisition procedure etc.
  317. 248 Acquisition in advance of requirements.
  318. 249 Distance limits from highway applicable to compulsory acquisition.
  319. 250 Land acquisition powers to extend to creation as well as acquisition of rights.
  320. 251 Rights acquired to be binding on successive owners of the land.
  321. 252 Power of landowner affected by rights acquisition to compel acquisition of whole interest.
  322. 253 Agreements as to use of land near highways.
  323. 254 Compulsory acquisition for certain purposes of rights in land belonging to local authorities etc.
  324. 255 Liability for certain expenses resulting from order under section 254.
  325. 256 Power to exchange land to adjust boundaries of highways.
  326. 257 Compulsory acquisition proceedings taken concurrently with other related proceedings, etc.
  327. 258 Provisions relating to objections to compulsory purchase orders.
  328. 259 Power to confirm, etc., compulsory purchase order in part and postpone consideration of remainder.
  329. 260 Clearance of title to land acquired for statutory purposes.
  330. 261 Benefit to vendor to be taken into account in assessing compensation on certain compulsory acquisitions for highway purposes.
  331. 262 Assumptions to be made in assessing compensation on certain compulsory acquisitions of land for service stations etc. and lorry areas for special roads.
  332. 263 Vesting of highways maintainable at public expense.
  333. 264 Vesting of drains etc. of certain roads.
  334. 265 Transfer of property and liabilities upon a highway becoming or ceasing to be a trunk road.
  335. 266 Transfer to Ministeror a strategic highways company of privately maintainable bridges carrying trunk roads.
  336. 266A Transfer of property and liabilities upon a highway becoming or ceasing to be a GLA road.
  337. 266B Transfer of employees upon a highway becoming or ceasing to be a GLA road.
  338. 267 Transfer to local highway authorities of privately maintainable bridges carrying special roads.
  339. 268 Transfer of property and liabilities in connection with special roads etc.
  340. 269 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  341. 270 Transfer of lighting systems.
  342. 271 Provisions with respect to transfer of toll highways to highway authorities.
  343. 272 Advances for highway purposes.
  344. 273 Contributions by county councils to expenses of district councils under section 96.
  345. 274 Contributions by councils towards expenses of highway authorities.
  346. 274A Contributions by parish or community councils.
  347. 275 Contributions by councils and local planning authorities towards expenses incurred in connection with footpaths , bridleways and restricted byways.
  348. 276 Contributions to land drainage works which will benefit trunk roads.
  349. 277 Contribution towards maintenance of bridge where road ceases to be a trunk road.
  350. 278 Agreements as to execution of works.
  351. 279 Borrowing power of councils.
  352. 280 Application of certain sums payable to local highway authorities.
  353. 281 Exemption from stamp duty.
  354. 281A Stamp duty land tax
  355. 281B Power to provide for fees for certain services
  356. 282 Power of highway authority to execute works for mitigating adverse effect of constructing or improving etc. highway.
  357. 283 Power of Minister to conduct experiments.
  358. 284 Powers of Ministeror strategic highways company in relation to privately maintainable parts of trunk roads.
  359. 284A Trunk roads: miscellaneous functions of Secretary of Stateand strategic highways company .
  360. 285 Power of Minister and Greater London Council to execute in Greater London road improvements not involving widening.
  361. 286 Power to require angles of new buildings at corners of streets to be rounded off.
  362. 287 Power to erect barriers in streets in cases of emergency etc.
  363. 288 Power to require gas and water pipes to be moved.
  364. 289 Powers of entry of highway authority for the purpose of survey.
  365. 290 Supplementary provisions as to powers of entry for the purpose of survey.
  366. 291 Powers of entry of highway authority for purpose of maintaining, etc. certain structures and works.
  367. 292 Compensation for damage resulting from, and offences connected with, exercise of powers of entry etc. under section 289 or 291.
  368. 293 Powers of entry for purposes connected with certain orders relating to footpaths and bridleways.
  369. 294 Entry, etc., of premises by highway authority or council for certain purposes.
  370. 295 Power of councils to dispose of certain materials.
  371. 296 Power of highway authority or council to execute certain works on behalf of other person.
  372. 297 Power of highway authority or council to require information as to ownership of land.
  373. 298 Duty of local authorities to furnish information to county councils and the Greater London Council.
  374. 299 Right to discharge water.
  375. 300 Right of local authorities to use vehicles and appliances on footways , bridleways and restricted byways.
  376. 301 Restriction on exercise of powers of lighting authorities.
  377. 301A London borough council exercising powers so as to affect another authority’s roads.
  378. 301B Royal Parks or highways in London affected by proposals relating to the other.
  379. 302 Provisions as to inquiries.
  380. 303 Penalty for obstructing execution of Act.
  381. 304 Power to require occupier to permit works to be executed by owner.
  382. 305 Recovery of expenses by councils and highway authorities.
  383. 306 Time-limit for summary proceedings for recovery of expenses.
  384. 307 Disputes as to compensation which are to be determined by Upper Tribunal and related provisions.
  385. 308 Disputes as to compensation which are to be determined by arbitration or county court.
  386. 309 Compensation in respect of depreciation in value of interest in land subject to mortgage.
  387. 310 Summary proceedings for offences.
  388. 311 Continuing offences.
  389. 312 Restriction on institution of proceedings.
  390. 313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  391. 314 Offences by body corporate.
  392. 315 Notice to be given of right of appeal.
  393. 316 Appeals and applications to magistrates’ courts.
  394. 317 Appeals to the Crown Court from decisions of magistrates’ courts.
  395. 318 Effect of decision of court upon an appeal.
  396. 319 Judges and justices not to be disqualified by liability to rates.
  397. 320 Form of notices etc.
  398. 321 Authentication of documents etc.
  399. 322 Service of notices etc.
  400. 323 Reckoning of periods.
  401. 324 Regulations for procedure in connection with, and centre line of roads authorised etc. by, certain schemes and orders.
  402. 325 Provisions as to regulations ... and orders.
  403. 326 Revocation and variation of schemes and orders.
  404. 327 Application of Act to Crown land.
  405. 328 Meaning of “highway”.
  406. 329 Further provision as to interpretation.
  407. 330 Construction of certain enactments relating to execution of works by statutory undertakers.
  408. 331 References to functions of council as respects any highway.
  409. 332 Widening of carriageway not to cease to be improvement by reason of diminution etc. of footway.
  410. 333 Saving for rights and liabilities as to interference with highways.
  411. 334
  412. 335 Saving for minerals etc.
  413. 336 Saving for Coast Protection Act 1949.
  414. 337 Saving for obligation to obtain planning permission or development consent
  415. 338 Saving for works, etc., of dock, harbour and canal undertakers.
  416. 339 Saving for works etc. of drainage authorities etc.
  417. 340 Preservation of amendments.
  418. 341 Amendment of section 303 of Public Health Act 1875.
  419. 342 Amendment of section 41 of the Countryside Act 1968.
  420. 343 Transitional provisions, amendments and repeals.
  421. 344 Application to Isles of Scilly.
  422. 345 Short title, commencement and extent.
  423. SCHEDULE 1 Procedures for Making or Confirming Certain Orders and Schemes
  424. SCHEDULE 2 Validity and Date of Operation of Certain Schemes and Orders
  425. SCHEDULE 3 Provisions of this Act Referred to in Section 11
  426. SCHEDULE 4 Classes of Traffic for Purposes of Special Roads
  427. SCHEDULE 5 Modifications of Certain Provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 as Applied by Section 21
  428. SCHEDULE 6 Provisions as to Making, Confirmation, Validity and Date of Operation of Certain Orders Relating to Footpaths , Bridleways and Restricted Byways
  429. SCHEDULE 7 Maintenance of Certain Highways by District Councils
  430. SCHEDULE 8 Consents Required for Execution of Certain Works in Streets
  431. SCHEDULE 9 Improvement Lines and Building Lines
  432. SCHEDULE 10 Procedure for Determination by Highway Authority of Certain Questions Arising in Connection with Provision of Cattle-Grid or By-Pass
  433. SCHEDULE 11 Provisions as to Orders under Section 93 of this Act
  434. SCHEDULE 12 Provisions as to Orders Under Section 116 and Conveyances Under Section 256
  435. Schedule 12ZA Delegation of function of making determination
  436. SCHEDULE 12A Further Powers of Highway Authorities and Councils in Relation to Interference with Highways
  437. SCHEDULE 13 Deductions from Rents
  438. SCHEDULE 14 Provisions with Respect to Notices Under Section 184
  439. SCHEDULE 15 Application of Advance Payments Code
  440. SCHEDULE 16
  441. SCHEDULE 17 Purposes for which Additional Land May be Taken in Advance of Requirements
  442. SCHEDULE 18 Distance Limits from Highway Applicable to Compulsory Acquisition
  443. SCHEDULE 19 Compulsory Acquisition of Rights: Modification of 1946 and 1965 Acts
  444. SCHEDULE 20 Acquisition of Land or Rights: Related Schemes and Orders
  445. SCHEDULE 21 Transitional Matters Arising where a Highway Becomes a Trunk Road or a Trunk Road Ceases to be a Trunk Road
  446. SCHEDULE 22 Provisions of this Act to which Sections 288, 294, 312, 338, 339 and 341 of this Act Apply
  447. SCHEDULE 23 Transitional Provisions
  448. SCHEDULE 24 Consequential Amendments
  449. SCHEDULE 25 Repeals

Proposed changes to this act

No one has proposed a change to this act yet.

449 provisions

175 Liability of certain persons in respect of materials left on highway.

If— (a) any officer or servant of the highway authority for a highway, or (b) any officer or servant of a non-metropolitan district council maintaining a highway by virtue of section 42 or 50 above, or (c) a person liable to maintain a highway by reason of tenure, enclosure or prescription, causes any heap of materials or any other object to be laid on the highway, he is, if he allows it to remain there at night to the danger of traffic without taking all reasonable precautions for the prevention of accidents, guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale.

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175A Duty to have regard to needs of disabled and blind in executing works, etc.

(1) In executing works in a street which may impede the mobility of disabled persons or blind persons highway authorities, local authorities and any other person exercising a statutory power to execute works on a highway shall have regard to the needs of such persons. (2) Any such authority or person as is mentioned in subsection (1) above shall have regard to the needs of disabled persons and blind persons when placing lamp-posts, bollards, traffic-signs, apparatus or other permanent obstructions in a street. (3) Highway authorities shall have regard to the needs of disabled persons when considering the desirability of providing ramps at appropriate places between carriageways and footways. (4) In executing in a street any such works as are mentioned in subsection (1) above, any such authority or person as is mentioned in that subsection shall have regard to the need of blind persons to have any openings, whether temporary or permanent, in the street, properly protected. (5) Section 28 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 (power to define certain expressions for the purposes of provisions of that Act) shall have effect as if any reference in it to a provision of that Act included a reference to this section.

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175B Consent of highway authority required for trunk road access

(1) Access to or from a trunk road in England must not be constructed, formed or laid out without the consent of the highway authority for the trunk road. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply where— (a) section 24(2) applies, or (b) development consent is required under the Planning Act 2008.

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176 Restriction on construction of bridges over highways.

(1) The highway authority for a highway may grant to the owner or occupier of any premises adjoining the highway a licence to construct a bridge over the highway on such terms and conditions, and to use it for such period and on such terms and conditions, as the authority think fit. (2) No fine, rent or other sum of money, except a reasonable sum in respect of legal or other expenses, is payable in respect of a licence under this section. (3) A licence under this section shall not authorise any interference with the convenience of persons using the highway, or affect the rights of owners of premises adjoining the highway, or the rights of tramway, railway, dock, harbour or electricity undertakers. (4) It shall be a condition of every licence under this section that the person to whom it is granted is, at his own expense, to remove the bridge or alter it in such manner as the authority may require, if at any time they consider the removal or alteration necessary or desirable in connection with the carrying out of improvements to the highway. The decision of the authority that the removal or alteration is necessary or desirable in that connection shall be final, and the condition shall be enforceable by the authority against the owner for the time being of the premises. (5) Subject to subsection (6) below, a person aggrieved by the refusal of an authority to grant a licence under this section or by the period for which the licence is granted or by a term or condition of the licence (other than the condition mentioned in subsection (4) above) may appeal to the Crown Court. (6) No appeal lies under subsection (5) above against any term or condition of a licence granted by the Minister under this section if he declares the term or condition to be necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of persons using the highway or of preventing interference with traffic on it. (7) If a person, except in the exercise of statutory powers— (a) constructs a bridge over a highway without a licence under this section, or (b) constructs or uses a bridge otherwise than in accordance with the terms and conditions of such a licence, or (c) fails to remove or alter a bridge when required to do so in accordance with any condition of the licence or within one month from the date of the expiration of the licence, he is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding level 2 on the standard scale, and if the offence is continued after conviction he is guilty of a further offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding £5 for each day on which the offence is so continued. (8) In this section “bridge” means a structure the sole purpose of which is to provide a way over a highway.

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177 Restriction on construction of buildings over highways.

(1) No person shall— (a) except in the exercise of statutory powers, construct a building over any part of a highway maintainable at the public expense (whether it is intended to span the highway or not), or alter a building so constructed, without a licence granted under this section by the highway authority for that highway or otherwise than in accordance with the terms and conditions of a licence so granted; (b) use a building so constructed or altered in pursuance of a licence so granted otherwise than in accordance with the terms and conditions thereof: and any person who contravenes any provision of this subsection is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; and if the offence is continued after conviction, he is guilty of a further offence and liable to a fine not exceeding £50 for each day on which the offence is so continued. (2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, a licence under this section may contain such terms and conditions, including terms and conditions with respect to the construction (including the headway over the highway), maintenance, lighting and use of the building, as the highway authority think fit; and, any such term or condition is binding on the successor in title to every owner, and every lessee and occupier, of the building. (3) No fine, rent or other sum of money is payable in respect of a licence granted under this section except— (a) a reasonable sum in respect of legal or other expenses incurred in connection with the grant of the licence; and (b) an annual charge of a reasonable amount for administering the licence; and any sum payable by virtue of paragraph (a) above is recoverable from the applicant for the licence and any sum payable by virtue of paragraph (b) above is recoverable from the owner of the building. (4) No such licence shall authorise any interference with the convenience of persons using the highway, or affect the rights of the owners of premises adjoining the highway, or the rights of statutory undertakers or the operator of an electronic communications code networkor a driver information network. (5) Where a licence under this section makes provision for the execution of any works or the provision of any facilities which in the opinion of the highway authority require to be executed or provided by them in connection with the building or its construction or alteration, the authority may execute those works or, as the case may be, provide those facilities and may recover the expenses reasonably incurred by them in so doing from the licensee or from the owner of the building. (6) A person aggrieved by the refusal of a highway authority to grant a licence under this section or by a term or condition of the licence may appeal to the Crown Court, except that no such appeal lies— (a) if the land on which the highway in question is situated is owned by the highway authority, or (b) against any term or condition which the highway authority declare to be necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of persons using the highway or of preventing interference with traffic thereon. (7) Where a person has constructed or altered a building for the construction, or, as the case may be, alteration, of which a licence is required by this section without such a licence or otherwise than in accordance with the terms and conditions of the licence, the highway authority may by notice served on the licensee or the owner of the building require him to demolish the building within such time as may be specified in the notice or, as the case may be, to make such alterations therein and within such time as may be so specified. (8) Where there has been a failure to comply with any terms or conditions of a licence under this section with respect to the maintenance or use of a building, the highway authority may by notice served on the licensee or the owner of the building require him to execute such works or take such steps as are necessary to secure compliance with those terms or conditions within such time as may be specified in the notice. (9) If a person on whom a notice is served under subsection (7) or (8) above fails to comply with the notice within the time specified in it, the highway authority may demolish the building or, as the case may be, execute such works or take such steps as are necessary to comply with the notice and may recover the expenses reasonably incurred by them in so doing from that person. (10) Where by virtue of subsection (9) above a highway authority demolish a building, they may dispose of the materials resulting from the demolition. (11) In relation to any prohibition or restriction on the use of a building imposed by the Minister by virtue of any term or condition contained in a licence granted by him under this section, section 1(1)(c) of the Local Land Charges Act 1975 has effect as if the references to the date of the commencement of that Act were references to 1st November 1971. (12) Part 10 of Schedule 3A to the Communications Act 2003 (the electronic communications code) (which provides a procedure for certain cases where works involve the alteration of electronic communications apparatus) shall apply, for the purposes of works authorised or required by a licence under this section to be executed, to the licensee. (13) This section does not apply to a building which constitutes a bridge within the meaning of section 176 above, but subject to that in this section “building” includes any structure and any part of a building. (14) Where the land on which a highway is situated is owned by the highway authority, nothing in subsection (3) above is to be taken as affecting the rights of that authority as the owner of that land to sell or lease the air-space above the surface of that land or grant any rights in relation to it.

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178 Restriction on placing rails, beams etc. over highways.

(1) No person shall fix or place any overhead beam, rail, pipe, cable, wire or other similar apparatus over, along or across a highway without the consent of the highway authority for the highway, and the highway authority may attach to their consent such reasonable terms and conditions as they think fit. (2) Subject to subsection (3) below, a person aggrieved by the refusal of a consent under subsection (1) above, or by any terms or conditions attached to such a consent, may appeal to a magistrates’ court. (3) No appeal lies under subsection (2) above against any term or condition attached by the Minister to a consent given by him under this section if he declares the term or condition to be necessary for the purpose of securing the safety of persons using the highway to which the consent relates or of preventing interference with traffic on it. (4) If a person contravenes subsection (1) above, or the terms or conditions of any consent given under that subsection, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale; and if the offence is continued after conviction he is guilty of a further offence and liable to a fine not exceeding £1 for each day on which the offence is so continued. (5) This section does not apply to any works or apparatus belonging to any statutory undertakers, and for this purpose the Civil Aviation Authority , a person who holds a licence under Chapter I of Part I of the Transport Act 2000 (to the extent that the person is carrying out activities authorised by the licence), and a universal service provider in connection with the provision of a universal postal service and the operator of an electronic communications code networkor a driver information network are to be deemed to be statutory undertakers.

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179 Control of construction of cellars etc. under street.

(1) No person shall construct works to which this section applies under any part of a street without the consent of the appropriate authority, and the authority may by notice served on a person who has constructed such works in contravention of this section require him to remove them, or to alter or deal with them in such a manner as may be specified in the notice. For the purposes of this section the appropriate authority is— (i) in relation to a street outside Greater London which is a highway, the highway authority for the street; and (ii) in relation to any other street, the local authority in whose area the street is situated. (2) A person aggrieved by the refusal of a consent, or by a requirement of a notice, under subsection (1) above may appeal to a magistrates’ court. (3) A person who constructs works to which this section applies in contravention of this section is guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale; and, subject to any order made on appeal, if he fails to comply with a requirement of a notice served on him under subsection (1) above he is guilty of a further offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding £2 for each day during which the failure continues. (4) The appropriate authority may also cause works to which this section applies constructed in contravention of this section to be removed, altered or otherwise dealt with as they think fit, and may recover the expenses reasonably incurred by them in so doing from the offender. (5) As soon as may be after an authority consent to the construction of works to which this section applies under a street they shall give notice of their consent to any public utility undertakers having any apparatus under the street. (6) Subject to subsection (7) below, the works to which this section applies are— (a) any part of a building; and (b) without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (a) above, a vault, arch or cellar, whether forming part of a building or not. (7) This section does not apply to street works within the meaning of Part III of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

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180 Control of openings into cellars etc. under streets, and pavement lights and ventilators.

(1) No person shall make an opening in the footway of a street as an entrance to a cellar or vault thereunder without the consent of the appropriate authority, and where an authority give consent under this subsection they shall require the person to whom the consent is given to provide a door or covering constructed in such manner and of such materials as they direct. For the purposes of this section the appropriate authority is the same as for the purposes of section 179 above. (2) No person shall carry out any works in a street to provide means for the admission of air or light to premises situated under, or abutting on, the street without the consent of the local authority, and the local authority in giving any consent under this subsection may impose any requirement as to the construction of the works. (3) A person aggrieved by the refusal of a consent, or by a requirement, under subsection (1) above may appeal to a magistrates’ court and a person who applies for consent under subsection (2) above may appeal to such a court against a refusal of consent, or a requirement, under subsection (2). (4) Subject to any order made on appeal— (a) a person who— (i) makes an opening in the footway of a street in contravention of subsection (1) above, or (ii) fails to comply with a requirement made to him under that subsection, is guilty of an offence and, without prejudice to any other liability to which he may be subject, liable to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale; (b) a person who— (i) carries out any works in contravention of subsection (2) above, or (ii) fails to comply with a requirement made to him under that subsection, is guilty of an offence and, without prejudice to any other liability to which he may be subject, liable to a fine not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale. (5) As soon as may be after an authority give consent under either subsection (1) or subsection (2) above they shall give notice thereof to any public utility undertakers having any apparatus under the street. (6) The following, namely— (a) every vault, arch and cellar under a street, (b) every opening in the surface of any street into any such vault, arch or cellar, (c) every door or covering to any such opening, (d) every cellar-head, grating, light and coal hole in the surface of a street, and (e) all landings, flags or stones of the street by which any of the above are supported, shall be kept in good condition and repair by the owner or occupier of the vault, arch or cellar, or of the premises to which it belongs. (7) If default is made in complying with subsection (6) above, the appropriate authority may, after the expiration of 24 hours from the service of a notice of their intention to do so on any person in default, cause any thing as respects which there has been such a default to be repaired or put into good condition, and may recover the expenses reasonably incurred by them in so doing from the owner or occupier thereof or of the premises to which it belongs.

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184 Vehicle crossings over footways and verges.

(1) Where the occupier of any premises adjoining or having access to a highway maintainable at the public expense habitually takes or permits to be taken a mechanically propelled vehicle across a kerbed footway or a verge in the highway to or from those premises, the highway authority for the highway may, subject to subsection (2) below, serve a notice on the owner and the occupier of the premises— (a) stating that they propose to execute such works for the construction of a vehicle crossing over the footway or verge as may be specified in the notice; or (b) imposing such reasonable conditions on the use of the footway or verge as a crossing as may be so specified. (2) A highway authority is not entitled by virtue of subsection (1) above to construct a vehicle crossing on, or on any part of, the site of a made-up vehicle crossing which has been constructed either under this section or under section 40 of the Highways Act 1971 (which this section replaces) or before the commencement of the said section 40, or to impose conditions on the use of such a crossing. (3) Where any land is being, or is to be, developed in accordance with a planning permission granted, or deemed to have been granted, under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and it appears to the highway authority for a highway maintainable at the public expense that the development makes it necessary— (a) to construct a crossing over a kerbed footway or a verge in the highway so as to provide an access for mechanically propelled vehicles to or from the carriageway of the highway from or to premises adjoining or having access to the highway; or (b) to improve or otherwise alter a made-up vehicle crossing that provides such an access as is mentioned in paragraph (a) above (whenever constructed), that authority may serve on the owner and the occupier of the premises a notice stating that they propose to execute such works for the construction or, as the case may be, alteration of the crossing as may be specified in the notice. (4) Unless the development giving rise to a notice under subsection (3) above consists solely of the provision of a new means of access to or from a highway from or to premises, there may be specified in a notice under that subsection works for the construction as part of the vehicle crossing proposed to be constructed or altered, as the case may be, of acceleration and deceleration lanes. (5) In determining whether to exercise their powers under subsection (1) or (3) above, a highway authority shall have regard to the need to prevent damage to a footway or verge, and in determining the works to be specified in a notice under subsection (1)(a) or (3) an authority shall have regard to that and the following other matters, namely— (a) the need to ensure, so far as practicable, safe access to and egress from premises; and (b) the need to facilitate, so far as practicable, the passage of vehicular traffic in highways. (6) Schedule 14 to this Act has effect with respect to the making of objections to a notice under subsection (1) or (3) above and to the date on which such a notice becomes effective. (7) Where a notice under subsection (1)(a) or (3) above has become effective, the highway authority by whom the notice was served may execute such works as are specified in the notice, subject to such modifications (if any) as may have been made by the Minister, and may recover the expenses reasonably incurred by them in so doing from the owner or occupier of the premises in question. (8) A notice under subsection (1) or (3) above shall inform the person on whom it is served of his right to object to the notice and (except in the case of a notice under subsection (1)(b)) shall state the effect of subsection (7) above. (9) Where a person who is carrying out, or proposes to carry out, such a development as is referred to in subsection (3) above offers to execute the works specified in a notice under that subsection, the highway authority by whom the notice was served may authorise him to execute those works in accordance with plans approved by them. . . . (10) If a person authorised under subsection (9) above to execute any works fails to execute them to the satisfaction of the highway authority before the development is completed, the authority may execute the works or alter the works executed by that person and recover the expenses reasonably incurred by them in so doing from him. (11) Any person may request the highway authority for a highway maintainable at the public expense to execute such works as are specified in the request for constructing a vehicle crossing over a footway or verge in the highway, and the authority may approve the request with or without modification, or may propose alternative works or reject the request; and in determining how to exercise their powers under this subsection an authority shall have regard to the matters mentioned in subsection (5) above. (12) An authority to whom a request under subsection (11) above is made shall notify the person making the request of their decision and if they approve, with or without modification, the works proposed in the request or propose alternative works, they shall supply him with a quotation of the cost of the works as approved or proposed by them, and he may, on depositing with them the amount quoted, require them to execute those works. (13) As soon as practicable after such a deposit has been made with an authority the authority shall execute the works as approved or proposed by them. (14) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (15) The expenses recoverable under subsection (7) or (10) above and the cost of the works for the purposes of subsection (12) above include the cost of any measures needing to be taken in relation to undertaker’s apparatus, in accordance with section 84 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, in consequence of the construction of the crossing. (16) Nothing in this section imposes on any person other than a highway authority any obligation to maintain a vehicle crossing. (17) If a person knowingly uses a footway or verge as a crossing in contravention of any condition imposed under subsection (1)(b) above, or knowingly permits it to be so used, he is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.

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185 Power to install refuse or storage bins in streets.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, a competent authority may provide and maintain in or under a street orderly bins or other receptacles, of such dimensions and in such positions as the authority may determine, for the collection and temporary deposit of street refuse and waste paper, or the storage of sand, grit or other materials. For the purposes of this section the following are competent authorities— (a) in relation to a street that is a highway, the highway authority for the highway and if different the local authority in whose area it is situated acting with the consent of the highway authority; (b) in relation to any other street, the local authority in whose area the street is situated. (2) An authority does not have power by virtue of this section to place a bin or other receptacle on a bridge over a railway, or under a bridge carrying a railway over a street, or within 10 feet of the abutments of a bridge carrying a railway over a street, except with the consent of the railway undertakers concerned. (3) An authority shall not exercise the power conferred by this section so as to obstruct or render less convenient the access to or exit from— (a) a station or goods yard belonging to railway undertakers; or (b) premises belonging to canal, inland navigation, dock, harbour, tramway, electricity, gas water or sewerage undertakers, or to a universal service provider in connection with the provision of a universal postal service, or to persons authorised by an enactment to carry on any other public undertaking, and used by those undertakers or persons for the purposes of their undertaking. (3A) For the purposes of subsection (3) above, the undertaking of a universal service provider shall be taken to be his undertaking so far as it relates to the provision of a universal postal service. (4) Nothing in this section is to be taken as empowering an authority to hinder the reasonable use of a street by the public or any person entitled to use it or as empowering an authority to create a nuisance to the owner or occupier of premises adjacent to a street.

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203 Interpretation of Part XI.

(1) In this Part of this Act (and elsewhere in this Act) “the private street works code” means sections 205 to 218 below; and “the advance payments code” means sections 219 to 225 below. (2) In this Part of this Act “private street” means a street that is not a highway maintainable at the public expense, and— (a) includes any land that is deemed to be a private street by virtue of a declaration made under section 232 below, and (b) for the purpose of the application of the advance payments code or section 229 below in relation to any building, includes— (i) any land in Wales shown as a proposed street on plans with respect to that building which accompany an application for building control approval under building regulations or on an application for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and (ia) any land in England shown as a proposed street on plans with respect to that building which accompany an application for building control approval under building regulations or on an application for planning permission under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, (ii) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . but the fact that a part of a street is a highway maintainable at the public expense does not prevent any other part of it from being a part of a private street for the purposes of this Part of this Act. (3) In this Part of this Act— “application for building control approval” means an application in accordance with building regulations for building control approval (as defined in paragraph 1B of Schedule 1 to the Building Act 1984); “building control authority” means the local authority as stated in section 121A of the Building Act 1984; “building safety regulator” means the regulator within the meaning of Part 2 of the Building Safety Act 2022; “contributory place” has the same meaning as in section 343 of the Public Health Act 1936; “fronting” includes adjoining, and “front” is to be construed accordingly; “industrial premises” means premises used or designed or suitable for use for the carrying on of any such process or research as is specified in section 66(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1971, and includes premises used for purposes ancillary to the carrying on of any such process or research; “local Act” includes a provisional order confirmed by Parliament and the confirming Act so far as it relates to that order; “paving, metalling and flagging” includes all methods of making a carriageway or footway; “place of public religious worship” means a place of public religious worship which belongs to the Church of England or to the Church in Wales (within the meaning of the Welsh Church Act 1914), or which is for the time being certified as required by law as a place of religious worship; “street works” means any works for the sewering, levelling, paving, metalling, flagging, channelling and making good of a street, and includes the provision of proper means for lighting a street; “street works authority” means— as respects a street outside Greater London, the council of the county or metropolitan district in which the street is situated, as respects a street in a London borough, the council of the borough, and as respects a street in the City, the Common Council. (4) For the purposes of the advance payments code and of section 229 below, the frontage of a building or proposed building on a street shall be deemed to be the frontage that the building itself and any land occupied or, as the case may be, proposed to be occupied, with the building and for the purposes of it has or will have on the street. (5) In ascertaining a majority in number of owners for the purposes of any provision of this Part of this Act, joint owners are to be treated as one owner.

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204 Purposes and application of private street works code and advance payments code.

(1) The private street works code has effect for securing the execution of street works in private streets anywhere in England or Wales. (2) The advance payments code has effect for securing payment of the expenses of the execution of street works in private streets adjacent to new buildings, and applies— (a) in all outer London boroughs; (b) in all areas in counties in which the advance payments code in the Highways Act 1959 (which is replaced by the advance payments code in this Act) was in force immediately before 1st April 1974; and (c) in any parish or community in which the advance payments code in the Highways Act 1959 was, after 1st April 1974, adopted in accordance with Schedule 14 to that Act, or in which the advance payments code is adopted in accordance with Schedule 15 to this Act. (3) The areas in which the advance payments code applies by virtue of subsection (2)(b) above shall be taken to include any area in Wales— (a) which is, or is in, a county borough; and (b) in which the code applied immediately before 1st April 1996 by virtue of that subsection.

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205 Street works in private streets.

(1) Where a private street is not, to the satisfaction of the street works authority, sewered, levelled, paved, metalled, flagged, channelled, made good and lighted, the authority may from time to time resolve with respect to the street to execute street works and, subject to the private street works code, the expenses incurred by the authority in executing those works shall be apportioned between the premises fronting the street. (2) Where the authority resolve to execute street works with respect to a part only of the street (other than a part extending for the whole of the length of the street), the expenses incurred by them in executing the works shall be apportioned only between the premises fronting the length of the street which constitutes or comprises that part. (3) Where an authority have passed a resolution under subsection (1) above, the proper officer of the council shall prepare— (a) a specification of the street works referred to in the resolution, with any necessary plans and sections, (b) an estimate of the probable expenses of the works, and (c) a provisional apportionment apportioning the estimated expenses between the premises liable to be charged with them under the private street works code; and the specification, plans, sections, estimate and provisional apportionment shall comprise the particulars specified in paragraphs 1 to 4 of Schedule 16 to this Act and shall be submitted to the authority, who may by a further resolution (hereafter in the private street works code referred to as “the resolution of approval”) approve them with or without modification or addition as they think fit. (4) If, in the case of a street outside Greater London, the street works referred to in the resolution under subsection (1) above include the sewering of the street, the proper officer of the county council shall, when preparing the specification required by subsection (3) above, consult the council of the district in which the street works are to be carried out. (4A) In the case of a street in Wales— (a) subsection (4) above does not apply; but (b) if the street works referred to in the resolution under subsection (1) above— (i) are to be carried out in a part of the street which is treated as being in the area of a street works authority other than the local Welsh council for it; and (ii) include the sewering of the street, the proper officer of the council which are the street works authority shall, when preparing the specification required by subsection (3) above, consult the local Welsh council for it. (5) After the resolution of approval has been passed, a notice containing the particulars specified in paragraph 5 of Schedule 16 to this Act shall— (a) be published once in each of 2 successive weeks in a local newspaper circulating in the area of the street works authority, and (b) be posted in a prominent position in or near to the street to which the resolution relates once at least in each of 3 successive weeks, and (c) within 7 days from the date of the first publication under paragraph (a) above, be served on the owners of the premises shown in the provisional apportionment as liable to be charged; and during one month from the said date a copy of the resolution of approval, and the approved documents or copies of them certified by the proper officer of the council, shall be kept deposited and open to inspection free of charge at all reasonable hours at the offices of the street works authority and also , in the case of a street situated in a non-metropolitan district, at the offices of the council of that districtand, in the case of any part of a street in Wales which is treated as being in the area of a street works authority which are not the local Welsh council for it, at the offices of the local Welsh council. (5A) For the purposes of this section, the local Welsh council for a street in Wales are the council of the county or county borough in which it is situated. (6) Where a notice is served on an owner of premises under subsection (5)(c) above it shall be accompanied by a statement of the sum apportioned on those premises by the provisional apportionment.

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206 Incidental works.

A street works authority may include in street works to be executed under the private street works code with respect to a street any works which they think necessary for bringing the street, as regards sewerage, drainage, level, or other matters, into conformity with any other streets, whether maintainable at the public expense or not, including the provision of separate sewers for the reception of sewage and of surface water respectively.

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207 Provisional apportionment of expenses.

(1) In a provisional apportionment of expenses of street works under the private street works code, the apportionment of expenses between the premises liable to be charged with them shall, subject to the provisions of this section, be made according to the frontage of the respective premises. (2) The street works authority may, if they think just, resolve that in settling the apportionment regard shall be had to the following considerations:— (a) the greater or less degree of benefit to be derived by any premises from the street works; (b) the amount and value of any work already done by the owners or occupiers of any premises. (3) The authority may— (a) if they think just, include in the apportionment any premises which do not front the street, but have access to it through a court, passage, or otherwise, and which will, in the opinion of the authority, be benefited by the works, and (b) fix, by reference to the degree of benefit to be derived by those premises, the amount to be apportioned on them.

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208 Objections to proposed works.

(1) Within one month from the date of the first publication of a notice under section 205(5)(a) above, an owner of premises shown in a provisional apportionment of expenses as liable to be charged with any part of the expenses of executing street works with respect to a private street or a part of a private street may, by notice to the street work authority, object to their proposals on any of the following grounds:— (a) that the alleged private street is not a private street or, as the case may be, that the alleged part of a private street is not a part of a private street; (b) that there has been some material informality, defect or error in, or in respect of, the resolution, notice, plans, sections or estimate; (c) that the proposed works are insufficient or unreasonable; (d) that the estimated expenses of the proposed works are excessive; (e) that any premises ought to be excluded from or inserted in the provisional apportionment; (f) that the provisional apportionment is incorrect in respect of some matter of fact to be specified in the objection or, where the provisional apportionment is made with regard to other considerations than frontage, in respect of the degree of benefit to be derived by any premises, or of the amount or value of any work already done by the owner or occupier of premises. (2) Where premises are owned jointly by 2 or more persons, a notice under subsection (1) above may be given on behalf of those persons by one of their number, if he is authorised in writing by a majority of them to do so.

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209 Hearing and determination of objections.

(1) If an objection is made under section 208 above within the period there specified, and is not withdrawn, the street works authority may, after the expiration of that period, apply to a magistrates’ court to appoint a time for hearing and determining all objections so made within that period, and shall serve on the objectors notice of the time and place so appointed. (2) At the hearing the court shall hear and determine the objections in the same manner as nearly as may be as if the authority were proceeding summarily against the objectors to enforce payment of a sum of money summarily recoverable. The court may quash in whole or in part or may amend the resolution of approval, specification, plans, sections, estimate and provisional apportionment, or any of them, on the application either of an objector or of the authority, and may also, if it thinks fit, adjourn the hearing and direct further notices to be given. (3) The costs of any proceedings before a magistrates’ court in relation to objections under the private street works code are in the discretion of the court, and the court may, if it thinks fit, direct that the whole or a part of any costs ordered to be paid by an objector or objectors are to be paid in the first instance by the authority, and charged as part of the expenses of the works on the premises of the objector, or, as the case may be, on the premises of the objectors in such proportions as may appear just.

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210 Power to amend specification, apportionment, etc.

(1) Subject to the provisions of this section, the street works authority may from time to time amend the specification, plans, sections, estimate and provisional apportionment for any street works proposed under section 205 above. (2) If the street works authority propose to amend the estimate so as to increase the amount of it, then, before the amendment is made, a notice containing the particulars specified in paragraph 6 of Schedule 16 to this Act shall— (a) be published once in each of 2 successive weeks in a local newspaper circulating in the area of the street works authority, and (b) be posted in a prominent position in or near to the street to which the resolution of approval relates once at least in each of 3 successive weeks, and (c) within 7 days from the date of the first publication under paragraph (a) above, be served on the owners of the premises shown in the provisional apportionment as liable to be charged; and, during one month from the said date, a document certified by the proper officer of the council giving details of the amendment of the estimate and of the consequential amendment of the provisional apportionment shall be kept deposited and open to inspection free of charge at all reasonable hours at the offices of the street works authority and also , in the case of a street situated in a non-metropolitan district, at the offices of the council of that districtand, in the case of any part of a street in Wales, the Welsh council for the county or county borough in which it is situated, if different from the street works authority in whose area it is treated as situated. (3) Where a notice is served on an owner of premises under subsecton (2)(c) above it shall be accompanied by a statement of the sum apportioned on those premises by the provisional apportionment as proposed to be amended. (4) Within one month from the date of the first publication of a notice under subsection (2)(a) above, objections may be made and, if made, shall be heard and determined in like manner, and subject to the like provisions with respect to the persons entitled to be heard and otherwise, as objections under section 208 above.

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211 Final apportionment and objections to it.

(1) When any street works to be executed under the private street works code have been completed, and the expenses of them ascertained, the proper officer of the council shall make a final apportionment by dividing the expenses in the same proportions as those in which the estimated expenses were divided in the original or amended provisional apportionment, as the case may be, and notice of the final apportionment shall be served on the owners of the premises affected by it. (2) Within one month from the date on which notice of the final apportionment is served on him, the owner of any premises shown in the apportionment as liable to be charged may, by notice to the authority, object to the apportionment on the following grounds, or any of them:— (a) that there has been an unreasonable departure from the specification, plans and sections; (b) that the actual expenses have without sufficient reason exceeded the estimated expenses by more than 15 per cent; (c) that the apportionment has not been made in accordance with this section Objections under this section shall be determined in the like manner, and subject to the like provisions with respect to the persons entitled to be heard and otherwise, as objections to the provisional apportionment. (3) The final apportionment, subject to any amendment made to it by a court on the hearing of objections to it under this section, is conclusive for all purposes.

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212 Recovery of expenses and charge thereof on premises.

(1) A street works authority may from time to time recover from the owner for the time being of any premises in respect of which any sum is due for expenses of street works the whole or any portion of that sum together with interest at such reasonable rates as the authority may determine from the date of the final apportionment. (2) The sum apportioned on any premises by the final apportionment or, as the case may be, by that apportionment as amended by a court, together with interest from the date of the final apportionment is, until recovered, a charge on the premises and on all estates and interests therein. (3) A street works authority, for the purpose of enforcing a charge under subsection (2) above before it is registered under the Local Land Charges Act 1975, have the same powers and remedies under the Law of Property Act 1925 and otherwise as if they were mortgagees by deed having powers of sale and lease and of appointing a receiver. (4) A street works authority may by order declare the expenses apportioned on any premises by a final apportionment made by the proper officer of the council or, as the case may be, by that apportionment as amended by a court, to be payable by annual instalments within a period not exceeding 30 years, together with interest from the date of the final apportionment; and any such instalment and interest, or any part thereof, may be recovered from the owner or occupier for the time being of the premises. Schedule 13 of this Act applies in relation to any sum paid by an occupier of premises under this subsection.

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