Overview
Highway works for new developments can cover a wide range of infrastructure improvements to ensure safe access, connectivity and regulatory compliance.
Developments may include, but are not limited to:
- new housing estates
- new commercial, retail, corporate and leisure centres
- health and medical facilities
Works in the existing highway can include, but are not limited to:
- Section 278 works
- new access roads tied in with the existing highway network
- junction improvements
- constructing new footway and cycle paths
- drainage and surface water management
- installation and diversion of utilities and apparatus (water, sewer, gas, electric and telecoms, private ducting, chambers, valves or junction boxes)
Housing developments
In 2025, the UK Parliament's Transport Select Committee called for stronger coordination of street works linked to new housing developments (see 'recommendation 11' specifically.)
The Department for Transport (DfT) has written to stakeholders and highway authorities, to remind of the best practices for planning and carrying out street works on highways linked to new housing developments.
Developer's responsibilities
A developer's responsibilities (through contractors if required) extends to coordinating all highway works for their development.
Authorities cannot fulfil their duty to coordinate without adequate, advance notice of proposed works. Early engagement enables identification of opportunities for joint working and wider coordination, including with other planned activities and resurfacing schemes.
Promoters of work must provide forward planning information about future works at the earliest opportunity and this will be maintained by the authority in 'Street Manager'.
Developers and contractors planning and completing street works on the highway must cooperate with the council. It is a statutory duty under sections 59 and 60 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA).
Regular coordination meetings should be attended by empowered representatives from all stakeholders to discuss planned works, traffic management, and opportunities for collaboration.
Collaboration is the working together of two or more different works promoters, often sharing trenches, traffic management or other parts of the works.
Road users are pedestrians, cyclists, motorists and public transport users. Vulnerable road users include people with disabilities, older individuals, children, and those with pushchairs. Organisations responsible for works, must ensure the safety of all.
Promoters of work should seek to avoid serious traffic disruption, repeated works, and works on recently resurfaced streets.
Collaborative working is strongly encouraged to reduce the number and duration of street works, minimise environmental impact, and improve public perception.
Communication plans should be developed for particularly impactful works, using press statements, advance signage, and direct notifications to affected residents and businesses.
Conditions may be attached with works approvals which locally determine mitigation measures at individual works sites.
View the Co-ordination Code of Practice statutory guidance
All relevant information, including forward plans and permit applications, must be provided to the authority who will enter and maintain information on behalf of developers in 'Street Manager'.
Undertaking highway works
When planning permission or other consents, such as a Section 278 Agreement, are granted, this does not authorise works to be carried out within the highway. Developers are required to obtain specific highway licences and approvals for each activity giving the relevant lead-times below. Developers must not assume that prior consents override the council’s statutory duties under the New Roads and Street Works Act. Doing so can result in uncoordinated and unauthorised works, disruption to the network, road users and delays to delivery of the development.
We will help you to coordinate your activities and restrictions and provide the legal services to authorise your works.
To help us help you plan and deliver your works with minimal disruption, please:
1. Give early notification of Highway works for coordination and planning purposes
Timeframe: action required in ~6 to 9 months prior to highway activities commencing
‘Forward plans’ are an important measure that help the council coordinate all activities in an area in advance. They also enable other works promoters to identify opportunities for joint working or to plan their own activities more effectively.
Early notification is not obtaining authorisation to do any Highways works and we won't charge you when you ask us to record forward plans.
This early warning:
- should be provided at the earliest possible opportunity
- does not need to be strictly indicative
For forward planning to be effective, developers should share details of any anticipated Highway works associated with a development with the council at the earliest reasonable opportunity; which can theoretically be prior to planning determination and the granting of other development consents.
You can contact us and provide:
- proposed start and end dates (this can be a window of time when all highway works required could be carried out)
- development name and location of works
- description of highway activities likely to be undertaken
- any traffic management and additional details (if available)
You can also request a Highway works coordination meeting as part of the instruction to discuss your plans and timescales for all the works to be delivered.
2. Apply to do the works
Timeframe: action required in the 3 months prior to highway activities commencing
When works details are confirmed, you will need to apply as soon as possible for the relevant Highway licence(s).
| Activity to be undertaken | Requirements needed before commencing highway works | Lead-times required for applications before construction starts | Process to apply to occupy the Highway |
|---|---|---|---|
Section 278 highway works. Allowing a developer to alter the public highway to suit a new development. |
All necessary agreements, permissions and consents from the Planning Authority, and any other relevant authorities or stakeholders, including, but not limited to: planning permissions, Section 278 agreements, landowner consents and utility approvals. |
3 months. (for works over 10 days in duration). |
Apply to use temporary signals (if required for the work) |
Section 50 apparatus works. Allowing a developer to install, maintain, and remove privately owned apparatus, within the public highway. |
All necessary agreements, permissions and consents from the Planning Authority, and any other relevant authorities or stakeholders, including, but not limited to: planning permissions, Section agreements, landowner consents and utility approvals. | 1 month. (but this could be extended, dependant on traffic management requirements) |
|
| Section 171 activities - trial holes, small excavations or alterations in the Highway | Initial approvals for the activity to be sought from the council's Community Highways Team. | 10 working days | |
| Works on trees | All consents to work on trees must be in place. Contact the council's Arboricultural Manager. |
10 working days | Road space booking |
| Any activities requiring a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) - road closures etc. | Requirements as above | 3 months | Apply for a TTRO |
| Non-invasive, general occupation of the Highway - with traffic control requirements | A full description of the works will be required on a road space booking application | 10 working days | Road space booking |
| Utility works (gas, electric, telecoms etc.) being carried out by Statutory Undertakers | Statutory Undertakers can apply for a Street Works Permit to undertake their own works - through the Street Manager system. They will be comply with the Dorset Council Permit Scheme. | NRSWA timescales apply | Not applicable |
Closing summary
Effective advance coordination can potentially see all Highway works for new developments delivered together, or at least programmed in a way that considers and mitigates impacts on all stakeholders and road users.
Where developers fail to engage early and do not coordinate works properly under the New Roads and Street Works Act, activities are often planned in isolation, resulting in multiple, uncoordinated occupations of the highway, avoidable traffic disruption, and delays to development delivery. Early engagement allows the council to coordinate works, manage road space effectively, and ensure statutory duties under NRSWA are met.