Collection

Street works and road works

Street works and road works information for local authorities and statutory undertakers carrying out work on or under the street.

• From: Department for Transport
• Published: 21 July 2011
• Last updated: 6 March 2019 — See all updates

Street works

Street works are carried out by statutory undertakers using equipment and machinery on or under the road. Statutory undertakers include:

• utility companies
• licensees under section 50 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA)
• contractors

Street works are necessary to provide and maintain utility and transport services, but can be disruptive to road users.

Road works

Road works are different from street works. They are works carried out to repair or improve the highway including footways, pavements and street lighting.

Diversionary works

Diversionary works are works to reroute utility services. They are sometimes necessary to accommodate highway improvement schemes. A code of practice, ‘Measures necessary where apparatus is affected by major works (diversionary works)’, can be bought from TSO. It is not available electronically.

Operational advice

• Street Works Act codes
  • 16 February 2018
  • Guidance
• Safety at street works and road works
  • 1 October 2013
  • Guidance
• Co-ordinating street works
  • 31 March 2023
  • Statutory guidance
• How to reinstate a road after doing street works
  • 14 May 2020
  • Guidance

Permit schemes

• Street works permit schemes: evaluation of effectiveness
  • 18 June 2018
  • Research and analysis
• Street works permit schemes conditions
  • 31 March 2023
  • Statutory guidance

Lane rental

• The impact of street works lane rental charges
  • 22 February 2012
  • Impact assessment
• Street works lane rental charges
  • 17 March 2024
  • Guidance
• Lane rental schemes for street works
  • 26 January 2012
  • Guidance

Overrun charges

2012 regulations outline that when utilities are planning works they must agree with the highway authority on how long it will reasonably take to complete them. If they take longer than this, the highway authority may impose an ‘overrun charge’, so utilities are incentivised to complete their works on time.

The charges should be imposed as set out in chapter 10 of the code of practice for the co-ordination of street works and works for road purposes and related matters.

• Higher charges for street works that overrun
  • 13 March 2010
  • Consultation outcome

Inspections

• Inspecting street works
  • 31 March 2023
  • Guidance

Qualifications

• Street works qualifications in England
  • 11 January 2017
  • Guidance
• Qualification requirements for people working on street works
  • 14 March 2013
  • Consultation outcome

Published 21 July 2011
Last updated 6 March 2019 + show all updates

1. 6 March 2019

   Added consultation on a new code of practice for reinstating a road after street works.

2. 16 February 2018

   'Future of lane rental schemes for roadworks' consultation outcome published

3. 18 December 2017

   Statutory guidance on street works inspections coring added to collection page.

4. 6 October 2015

   Added new statutory guidance on permit schemes.

5. 1 July 2015

   Advice on changes to street works permit schemes required by 1 October 2015 issued.

6. 21 July 2011

   First published.