In-depth guidance for highways development
Section 4: Delivering works on the highway
When considering highway works associated with new development or road adoptions developers should contact the Highways Development Management team at an early stage.
Road safety audits
Requirements for Road Safety Audits should be established with the Council’s Highways Development Management team at an early stage.
As part of the detailed design submission, an independent road safety team should carry out a Stage 1 and 2 Road Safety Audit, (preliminary and detailed design) to the relevant standard which is currently the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (HD 19/15). Following completion of the works, an independent road safety team should carry out a Stage 3 and 4 Road Safety Audit. Developers should provide a designers response to address all concerns raised in the Audit to the satisfaction of Buckinghamshire Council and the independent auditor in accordance with the relevant Highway Agreement.
Buckinghamshire Council prefers developers to use its Transport for Bucks Road Safety Audit Team for these audits.
Guidance 28: Applications must carry out a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit for alterations that might:
- Materially alter the existing highway;
- Affect road user behaviour;
- Worsen the outcome of a collision; or
- Proposed new roads to be adopted by the Highway Authority
Where a Stage 1 Road Safety Audit has been undertaken developments will then be expected to complete further Stage 2 to 4 Audits at the appropriate points.
Agreements to deliver highways works
Where mitigation works are required on the highways network developers are required to enter into a Section 278 legal agreement, which allows them to carry out these works in accordance with Buckinghamshire Council’s requirements.
Plans approved at planning application stage are subject to detailed design and formal approval processes.
For construction of a new access or amendments to an existing access relating to a new development, a Section 184 Licence may be more appropriate. Any access serving less than 3 residential properties will be covered by a private licence. Further guidance and how to apply is available on Highways Development Management webpages.
Agreements for road adoptions
Where a developer seeks to offer new roads and footways for adoption by the Highway Authority a Section 38 legal agreement is required. We will not normally process an application for a Section 38 Agreement before Full or Reserved Matters planning approval has been issued. Further guidance and how to apply is available on Highways Development Management webpages.
Construction impacts on the highway
The developer should minimise and repair any damage caused to the existing highway during construction in accordance with Section 59 of the Highways Act (1980). Developers may have to undertake a condition survey before and after construction.
The use of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) is generally a feature of the construction of new developments. Developers must ensure the impact of HGVs is minimised to avoid unacceptable highway safety, environmental and capacity impacts. A Construction Management Plan, as described in Guidance 27, may be required to help do this.
Guidance 29: Developments should minimise and repair any damage to the highway caused during construction in line with the provisions of existing legislation.
Guidance 30: Developments should provide routeing details and if required a routeing agreement where: - they generate significant HGV movements; or - do not access the network from Strategic Routes; or Goods vehicle traffic needs to avoid identified traffic sensitive areas
Commuted sums
Highway works may be required to provide new or improved accesses or off-site improvements.
Developers should fund the maintenance of new assets that are to be adopted by Buckinghamshire Council in accordance with Buckinghamshire Council’s commuted sums guidance.
Guidance 31: Developers must fund the maintenance of new assets related to their development in accordance with Buckinghamshire Council’s commuted sums guidance.