Transport and streets

Notes on guidance (SWL1)

Roads and pavements may be dug up to either install or work on apparatus such as drains, cables, ducts or sewer, water and gas pipes.

A person or organisation granted a street works licence must comply with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and its associated secondary legislation and codes of practice. 

If you are not familiar with this legislation, you are strongly advised to ask a contractor with the appropriate accreditation to complete the application and conduct the work on your behalf.

If you apply for the licence and do not comply with this legislation, you may be fined.

Before you apply for a licence, you must agree a method of traffic management with our traffic management engineer (contact details below).

How to apply

You can apply for a licence by completing the relevant forms and posting them to the address below. Your application should be submitted one month before the work is due to start. In cetain circumstances a shorter period can be agreed with the council and the owners of the affected apparatus.

If you are installing new apparatus, you should complete and submit form SWL2 (download below) together with a scale plan showing, with a red dotted line, the proposed location and depth of the new equipment. (scale=1/2500 or greater). 

If you wish to work on existing apparatus, you should complete form SWL3 (download below).

The form should be accompanied by:

• payment in advance
• form SWL4, which gives the council advance notice of the intended starting date of the works (download below)
• proof of public liability insurance (as detailed in section 4 of the form).

When you begin your street works

Once you have received your licence, you must:

• adhere to any special conditions that have been imposed
• in the interests of safety
• to minimise the inconvenience to people using the street, particularly those with disabilities
• to protect the equipment in traffic-sensitive streets (see part 7 below)
• contact all the organisations whose apparatus may be affected by your work, including the owners of drains, cables, ducts and sewer, water and gas pipes (see part 6 below)
• sign and guard the excavation according to the methods indicated in Chapter 8 (Sections 59, 65 and 70) of the Road Traffic Signs Manual
• ensure that workers on your street works have the necessary qualifications
• complete the work within a reasonable time frame
• properly maintain the apparatus installed at all times.

If you have to dispose of any waste material from the excavation, you must complete a controlled waste transfer note. Give one copy to the person accepting the waste and keep a copy for your records.

You must allow the council to monitor all stages of the street works including:

• signing
• guarding
• excavation
• temporary reinstatement of the pavement or road surfacing
• permanent reinstatement of the pavement or road surfacing in the month before the end of the guarantee period.

The guarantee period begins when the council is told about the permanent reinstatement and lasts for:

• two years for excavations up to 1.5m deep
• three years for deeper excavations.

After you have completed your street works

When the street works have been completed you must:

• notify the council that you have reinstated the pavement or road surfacing by the end of the following working day, stating whether it is temporary or permanent. Temporary reinstatements must be made permanent within six months
• send the council a completed form SWL5 (download below) and a detailed drawing showing the actual depth of the apparatus and its location measured against fixed objects or structures (scale=1/2500).

If you have been refused a licence

You may be refused a licence if you propose to install apparatus on a line crossing the street, rather than along the line of the street.

You can appeal to the Secretary of State if you:

• have been refused a licence
• are granted a licence on terms that prevent you from achieving your aims
• dispute the terms or conditions of the licence.

Contact Details

Contact name

NRSWA Section

Department

Environmental, Cultural and Sports Services

Telephone

020 8726 7100

Fax

020 8763 1649

Email

highwaysmaintenance@croydon.gov.uk

Address

London Borough of Croydon
Purley Oaks Depot
1a Riddlesdown Road
Purley
CR8 1DG