Highways - Advice for Builders

Demolition / Building / Construction Works Adjoining or Likely to Affect Public Highways

The following notes are offered for your guidance if you undertake works in the vicinity of public highways:

Note: The term "Public Highway" refers to that whole width of land between frontages and over which the public have right of access i.e. carriageway, footway and verges.

1. Works within public highways, erection of scaffolding hoardings and barriers crossing footways and/or verges and placing of materials, plant and skips, require authorisation by the Hastings Highway Engineer, This is to ensuring the public are safeguarded and highway surfaces maintained and if necessary reinstated to prescribed standards. Persons working on or adjacent to the highway are reminded of there responsibilities under Health and Safety Legislation.

2. Early consultation with Highway staff is advised wherever there is likely to be obstruction of pedestrian and vehicular traffic, also if any existing Parking Regulations require to be changed to allow the works to be carried out. This should ensure your works are not unduly delayed while the necessary licences etc. are obtained. A minimum of six weeks is required to apply for and implement a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (eg. Road Closure, amendment to Parking Regulations etc.).

3. Separate licences are required for the following operations, affecting the public highways:-

1. Erection of Scaffolding, Hoardings and Barriers.
2. Deposit of Building Materials and Plant.
3. Deposit of Builders' skip (obtained by skip hire company).
4. Excavation within the highway for sewer connections etc.
5. Use of temporary traffic lights.
6. Access to site

Applications forms for the above can be found by visiting the Highways Application Forms and Guidelines page.

Licences take three clear working days to process, if handed in and collected at the office, allow 7 days for postal applications.

Public Liability Insurance cover is required by the person or company carry out operations or storing materials on the highway, this at present stands at £10 million of cover. This is based on the results of claims resulting for accidents involving these type of operations.

4. Past experience proves that much of the aggravation caused to the public by works adjoining/within the highway can be avoided by reasonable measures agreed with my staff, in advance. Advice on such matters as the use of temporary traffic signals, road signing and siting of builders' skips is readily available from my staff.

Please contact the Highways Group if you require more information.

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