Construction & Property

Carry out works affecting the strategic road network

How to obtain National Highways approval before carrying out works on or adjacent to motorways and trunk roads in England. Covers DMRB design standards, the design review process, road space booking, technical approval for structures, traffic management requirements, and penalties for unauthorised works.

UK-wide
Guide summary

If you plan to work on or near motorways and major A-roads in England, you must get approval from National Highways first. This applies to all types of work. Doing work without approval is a criminal offence and could lead to penalties.

  • Get approval from National Highways before any work starts
  • Applies to motorways and major A-roads (Strategic Road Network)
  • Covers all types of work, including temporary setups and structures
  • Follow Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) standards
  • Book road space with National Highways for your planned works
  • Pay National Highways' costs for reviews and inspections
  • Unauthorised work is a criminal offence and you will pay for removal
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If you need to carry out works on or adjacent to a motorway or trunk road in England, you must obtain approval from National Highways before any work begins. National Highways is the highway authority for the Strategic Road Network (SRN), which comprises around 4,300 miles of motorways and trunk roads. This requirement applies to all types of works, including temporary traffic management, connections and junctions, structures, drainage, lighting, and signage.

There is no single consent provision for works on the SRN. The legal basis depends on what you are doing: highway alterations are carried out under a Section 278 agreement with National Highways (Highways Act 1980); constructing or altering an access to or from a trunk road needs National Highways' consent under Section 175B (inserted by the Infrastructure Act 2015); structures over or under the highway need a licence under Sections 176 to 178; vehicle crossings fall under Section 184; scaffolding, hoardings, building materials and skips on the highway need licences under Sections 169, 172, 171 and 139; and works to apparatus in the street are governed by the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. Working without the relevant consent or agreement exposes you to enforcement action, including removal of unauthorised works at your expense.

This guide applies to contractors, developers, and utility companies carrying out works on the SRN in England. It does not cover local roads managed by local highway authorities, trunk roads in Scotland (managed by Transport Scotland), trunk roads in Wales (managed by the Welsh Government), or trunk roads in Northern Ireland (managed by the Department for Infrastructure).

Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB) standards

All works on or affecting the Strategic Road Network must comply with the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges (DMRB). This is the technical standard published under the authority of National Highways that governs the design, construction, and maintenance of the SRN.

The DMRB covers a wide range of technical requirements including:

  • Geometric design - road alignment, junction layout, and visibility requirements for the speed and traffic volumes on the SRN
  • Structural design - bridges, retaining walls, gantries, and other highway structures must be designed and checked in accordance with DMRB technical approval procedures
  • Drainage design - surface water drainage, attenuation, and pollution control for highway runoff
  • Pavement design - road surface and foundation layer specifications for the traffic loading on the SRN
  • Environmental assessment - noise, air quality, landscape, and ecology impacts of works on the SRN

In addition to the DMRB, the Manual of Contract Documents for Highway Works (MCHW) sets out the construction specifications for materials, workmanship, and testing. Compliance with both DMRB and MCHW is mandatory for all works on the SRN.

If you are working on a local road but your works affect the SRN (for example, a development that requires a new junction onto a trunk road), you must obtain National Highways approval for the elements that affect the SRN, even though the local highway authority manages the local road.

Apply for approval step by step

  1. 1

    1. Identify the National Highways regional team

    The SRN is managed by National Highways regional teams. Identify which region covers the section of motorway or trunk road affected by your works. Contact the relevant regional team as early as possible in your planning process. Early engagement helps avoid delays and design rework later.

  2. 2

    2. Prepare your design submission

    Prepare full design drawings in accordance with DMRB standards. Your submission must include a design statement explaining the scope and purpose of the works, detailed design drawings to the appropriate DMRB standard, a traffic management proposal complying with Chapter 8 Part 2 and National Highways specifications, a programme of works showing phasing and duration, and a safety risk assessment. For works involving structures (bridges, gantries, retaining walls), you must also apply for technical approval under CG 300 (DMRB Technical approval of highway structures, which replaced the withdrawn BD 2) before finalising your design.

  3. 3

    3. Submit traffic management proposals

    All works on the SRN require approved traffic management. Your traffic management design must comply with Chapter 8 Part 2 of the Traffic Signs Manual and National Highways specifications. Traffic management contractors on motorways and high-speed dual carriageways must be registered under National Highways Sector Scheme 12A/B (static temporary traffic management) or 12C (mobile lane closures), which are mandatory for the strategic road network. Submit your traffic management proposal as part of your overall application.

  4. 4

    4. Book road space

    All planned works on the SRN require a road space booking through National Highways. This coordination process ensures your works do not conflict with other planned works, events, or incidents on the network. Apply for your road space booking once your design and traffic management proposals are at an advanced stage. National Highways coordinates road space to minimise disruption to road users under its network management duty (Traffic Management Act 2004, Section 16).

  5. 5

    5. Obtain design approval

    National Highways reviews your design submission for compliance with DMRB standards, safety, and impact on network operation. The review may result in approval, approval with conditions, or a request for amendments. Do not begin any works until you have received written approval. The applicant pays National Highways' reasonable costs for the design review, inspection, and supervision of works.

  6. 6

    6. Carry out works under supervision

    Once approved, carry out the works in accordance with the approved design, traffic management plan, and programme. National Highways will inspect and supervise the works. Any changes to the approved scope, design, or traffic management must be agreed with National Highways before implementation. Working outside the approved scope is treated as unauthorised works.

Penalties for unauthorised works

Carrying out works on the SRN without the relevant consent, licence or agreement exposes you to enforcement action by National Highways under the Highways Act 1980. Constructing an access to or from a trunk road without Section 175B consent breaches that section, and several of the licensing provisions (such as Section 169 for scaffolding and Section 139 for skips) carry their own criminal offences. National Highways can require the removal of unauthorised works and recover its costs from you.

Beyond enforcement, unauthorised works on the SRN can result in significant costs for the contractor, including the cost of removing and reinstating works, compensation for any damage to the highway, and potential civil liability if the unauthorised works contribute to an accident.

What to do next

Once you have obtained National Highways approval:

  • Check traffic management registrations - traffic management on motorways and high-speed dual carriageways requires National Highways Sector Scheme 12A/B registration (or 12C for mobile lane closures). Verify registrations before work begins
  • Coordinate with the local highway authority if your works also affect local roads adjacent to the SRN. You may need separate permits from the local authority for those elements
  • Review reinstatement standards - reinstatement on the SRN must comply with both SROH and MCHW specifications, which may exceed the standard required for local roads
  • Plan for night working if National Highways requires works to be carried out during off-peak hours. Most lane closures on motorways must take place at night

For works on local roads (not the SRN), see Highway works and street works permits. For traffic management signing requirements applicable to all road types, see Set up traffic management for road works.

Official guidance and legislation