Journey
Complete guide to highway works compliance
End-to-end learning path for contractors new to highway works in England. Covers the legal framework, permit types, required qualifications, traffic management, reinstatement standards, penalties, and road adoption.
What you will learn
This learning path takes you through the regulatory framework for carrying out works on public highways in England. By the end, you will understand:
- The two main Acts that govern highway works and how they interact
- Which permits, notices, and licences you need before breaking ground
- What qualifications your workforce must hold under SWQR
- How to plan and implement compliant traffic management
- What reinstatement standards apply and how long your guarantee lasts
- The penalties you face for non-compliance, including the doubled FPN rates from January 2026
Work through each step in order. Each builds on the previous one.
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Understand the legal framework
Highway works in England are governed by three key pieces of legislation:
- New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA) - regulates utility companies and their contractors when excavating streets to install or maintain underground apparatus
- Highways Act 1980 - covers road construction, adoption, vehicle crossings, skip placement, and obstruction. Applies to developers and builders
- Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) - introduced permit schemes that replace the older NRSWA notice-only system in most highway authority areas
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Identify which permits and notices you need
The type of permit or notice you need depends on what work you are doing, how long it will take, and whether you are a statutory undertaker or a private contractor. Getting this wrong can result in Fixed Penalty Notices of up to 1,000 pounds under the doubled 2026 rates.
Highway works and street works permits
Comprehensive guide covering NRSWA notices, TMA permit applications, Section 50 licences for non-statutory undertakers, vehicle crossings, skip permits, and Section 74 overrun charges
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Ensure your workforce holds the right qualifications
The Street Works (Qualifications of Supervisors and Operatives) (England) Regulations 2009 (SWQR) require everyone working on street works to hold the appropriate qualification. You cannot legally carry out street works without qualified personnel on site.
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Plan your traffic management
Any works on or near the highway that affect traffic flow require a traffic management plan. The plan must comply with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual, which sets out the signing and guarding requirements for road works. Poor traffic management is a common cause of enforcement action and can endanger the public.
Set up traffic management for road works
How to create a compliant traffic management plan, select signing and guarding, obtain temporary traffic signal approval, and meet permit conditions for traffic-sensitive streets
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Meet reinstatement standards
After completing your works, you must reinstate the highway to the standard set out in the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways (SROH). Reinstatement quality is inspected by the highway authority, and defects discovered during the guarantee period must be corrected at your expense.
Reinstatement standards for highway works
SROH reinstatement categories, guarantee periods, materials specifications, coring and inspection regime, and what happens when defects are found
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Understand road adoption (for developers)
If you are a developer building new roads on a housing or commercial development, those roads will typically need to be adopted by the local highway authority so they become publicly maintainable. This is done through a Section 38 agreement under the Highways Act 1980.
The adoption process involves constructing the road to an adoptable standard, paying a bond to cover potential defects, and passing a maintenance period before the highway authority formally adopts the road. Section 219 advance payments may also apply.
Summary and next steps
You now have a solid understanding of the regulatory framework for highway works in England. Use this checklist to confirm your readiness:
- I understand the difference between NRSWA and Highways Act requirements
- I know whether my local authority operates a permit scheme or notice system
- I have identified which permit category applies to my planned works
- My workforce holds current SWQR qualifications for their roles
- I have a compliant traffic management plan based on Chapter 8
- I understand the reinstatement standards and guarantee periods that apply
- I am aware of the doubled FPN rates and Section 74 overrun charges