Regulator profile

National Highways

Enforcement Regulator England

What National Highways does

Government company responsible for operating, maintaining, and improving England's strategic road network (motorways and major A-roads). Sets standards for highway design, construction, and maintenance. Issues technical standards and specifications for road construction works.

Formerly Highways England. Key source of technical standards (DMRB, MCHW) for road construction. Works with local highway authorities.

HighwaysSpecificationsStandards

Contact National Highways

Legislation that National Highways directly enforces.

Primary legislation

Highways Act 1980 Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 Traffic Management Act 2004

Secondary legislation

Motorways Traffic (England and Wales) Regulations 1982 The Street Works (Reinstatement) Regulations 1992 Road Vehicles (Authorisation of Special Types) (General) Order 2003 Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016 (TSRGD 2016) Street and Road Works (Charges and Penalties) (Amendments) (England) Regulations 2025

Legislation connected to National Highways’s remit but not directly enforced — establishing Acts, amendments, referenced legislation, and context.

Establishing / enabling

Infrastructure Act 2015 UK Act of Parliament

Administered / monitored

The A1 Trunk Road (Gateshead Western Bypass) (Closure of Layby) Order 2013 UK Statutory Instrument The A500 Trunk Road (Hanchurch to North of A53 Etruria Roundabout) (40 and 50 Miles Per Hour Speed Limit and Derestriction) Order 2013 UK Statutory Instrument The A66 Trunk Road (Mainsgill Farm) (Temporary Restriction and Prohibition of Traffic) Order 2013 UK Statutory Instrument The M6 Motorway (Junction 1 to 2) (Temporary Prohibition of Traffic) Order 2013 UK Statutory Instrument

Referenced in enforcement

Road Traffic Act 1988 UK Act of Parliament Planning Act 2008, Part 3 UK Act of Parliament Infrastructure (Financial Assistance) Act 2012 UK Act of Parliament Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023 UK Act of Parliament

Other publications

289 additional documents from National Highways.

B Series - Edge of pavement details (opens in a new tab)

CD 109 - Highway link design (opens in a new tab)

CD 116 - Geometric design of roundabouts (opens in a new tab)

CD 122 - Geometric design of grade separated junctions (opens in a new tab)

CD 123 - Geometric design of at-grade priority and signal-controlled junctions (opens in a new tab)

View all 289 documents (opens in a new tab)

Sectors regulated

Construction

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