Permit scheme for road works and street works

Including Provisional Advanced Authorisation Applications.

Permit applications must contain the required level of information in order for the Permit Authorities to properly assess the application and if necessary request that the appropriate conditions be added.

To aid the application and co-ordination process, the quality of the information supplied within any application must be sufficient to allow the Permit Authority to make an efficient and informed decision in relation to the following:

• The overall objectives of the Permit Scheme as defined in Section 1.8
• The full impact of the proposed activities on the highway and users of the highway
• Identification of potential activity conflicts
• The potential for collaborative working
• Identification of any permit conditions that may be required

A permit is required to be obtained by electronic communication from the Permit Authority before specified works are carried out in a specified street.

An application shall relate to one proposed activity in only one street.

A detailed description of the activity must be provided to allow the Permit Authority to assess the likely impact of the activities.

Descriptions must justify the proposed duration of the activity

In the case of collaborative working, a full description of the collaborative scheme of works must be provided and the Activity Promoters identified. Contact details for all Activity Promoters working in collaboration must be provided in all permit applications including out of hours details.

Promoters must give an accurate activity location based on National Grid References (NGRs).

Polygons for all activity application types, as defined in Section 6, can be supplied.

If any NGR contained within a permit application is considered to be inaccurate or misleading, the application may be refused.

Start and end National Grid References (NGRs) must be supplied as a minimum, however, a poly line (line centre of site) is desirable, particularly if proposed works areas or trenches deviate from a straight line, for example, following the curvature of a street or requiring a road crossing.

A centre point NGR must be supplied as a minimum; however, as with major works, a line or a poly line (line centre of site) is desirable in the following circumstances:

• The activity area or trenches are expected to be more than 10 metres in length.
• Activity locations on the application in the same street are separated
• Activity areas or trenches are to deviate from a straight line (for example, following the curvature of a street or requiring a road crossing).

NGRs must be supported by the notice location text facility. This data must contain relevant and detailed information, specific to the application, to include the following:

• House names and numbers including where works are to start and finish
• Proximity to fixed geographic points where house numbers or names cannot be obtained (for example, distance from a junction of another street)
• Where activities are affecting the verge, footway or carriageway (or a combination of the above)

If the activity location description of the proposed permit is considered to be inadequate the application may be refused.

Each permit application must include the proposed start and end dates of the activity. The duration is in consecutive calendar days not working days and should indicate if the activities are intended to be carried out over weekends, bank holidays or out of normal working hours.

Where activities are proposed in traffic sensitive streets, start and end times for each day should be specified within the conditions.

Activity Promoters should provide an illustration of the activity, particularly where the activity is significant in terms of potential disruption due to its position and size.

This may include more than just major activities - a small excavation at a critical junction may be much more disruptive.

Illustrations, where provided, should be based on an extract of the plan held by the Activity Promoter showing the location of their apparatus at the site in question.

Illustrations should be sent via the electronic communication as an attachment wherever possible.

Details of the planned techniques, such as open cut, trench share, minimum dig technique or no dig must be provided. Until such times as there is an Electronic Management System field specifically for this information, it should be included as a comment on the permit application.

Details of traffic management proposals will be required within the permit application.

Details of portable traffic signals must be contained within the permit application. If prior approval has been given this should be noted on the permit application.

Details of any Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and Temporary Traffic Regulation Orders (TTROs) will be required within the application, including any requirement for action by the Highway Authority, such as the need for, and approval of temporary road closures.

In the case of, for example, the suspension of a parking bay, bus lanes, one way systems or pedestrian crossings, the Activity Promoter should make an application to the appropriate authority.

Applicants requiring a TTRO should be aware that additional costs will be levied and the Activity Promoters should familiarise themselves with the timescales relating to TTRO applications.

A PAA must specify that an application has been made to the relevant authority for a TTRO where required.

The follow-up major works PA must confirm that a TTRO has been made by the relevant authority.

Activity Promoters must indicate if they anticipate the excavation will exceed 1.5m at the time of application. This can be added as a comment until such time that an Electronic Management System field is available specifically for this information. See Section 11.7 for Permit Variation requirements on Depth.

The Activity Promoter is required to indicate the estimated number of inspection units appropriate to the activity in accordance with the rules laid down in the Inspections Code of Practice and in The Street Works (Inspection Fees) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2004.

The application must include the name and contact details of the person appointed by the Activity Promoter to deal with any problems that may occur during the activity, including any provision made for out-of-hours contact by the promoter.

The conditions imposed are those set out in the Statutory Guidance for Highway Authority Permit Schemes – Permit Scheme Conditions, or subsequent statutory guidance. Where a condition or conditions are applied to permits the wording and numbering set out in the Statutory Guidance, which may be updated from time to time, must be used.

There may be an exceptional circumstance where a specific circumstance means that an additional condition needs to be added to a permit that is not covered by the text of the conditions set in the statutory guidance.

Any such condition should:

• First be agreed with the work promoter (in line with the respective duties imposed by s59 and s60 of the 1991 Act)
• Be specific to both the circumstances of the particular activity and the locality; falls within regulation 10 (2) (a – h)
• Comply with all primary and secondary legislation regulations and that the application of any constraint within a condition does not conflict with the activity promoter’s obligations under separate legislation
• Follow this and any further DfT statutory guidance
• Have regard to the advice provided as the Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (England)
• Be labelled under reference 13.

Failure to comply with the above requirements may affect the response time and ultimately the success of the permit application, which may be refused.