Street Works Permit Scheme

Our Street Works Permit Scheme allows us to manage when, how and where street and road works take place across public highways in our district. This then helps us to reduce unnecessary disruption to road users.

Within the permit scheme, anyone carrying out works in the road will legally need to apply to West Berkshire Council for permission before starting the works.

Read our  Permit Scheme Order 2022 [766KB]  for full details of the scheme.

The scheme does not include the M4 and A34, which are managed by National Highways.

When you need a permit

You will need a permit if you are planning Street Works or Works for Road Purposes (WRP) that require:

• breaking up or resurfacing any street
• opening (lifting covers) the carriageway or cycleway of traffic-sensitive streets at traffic-sensitive times
• any form of temporary traffic control
• reducing the lanes available on a carriageway of three or more lanes
• a temporary traffic regulation order or notice, or the suspension of pedestrian facilities
• reducing the width of the existing carriageway of a traffic-sensitive street at a traffic-sensitive time

'Street Works' is defined in s48 of New Roads and Street Works Act. It covers works (other than works for road purposes) executed in a street to carry out a statutory right or a street works licence that involve placing, inspecting, maintaining, adjusting, repairing, altering or renewing, changing the position of or removing apparatus.
 

'Works for Road Purposes (WRP)' is defined in s86 of New Roads and Street Works Act as any of the following descriptions executed in relation to a highway:

• works for the maintenance of the highway
• any works under powers conferred by Part V of the HA1980 (Highway improvement works)
• erection, maintenance, alteration or removal of traffic signs on or near the highway
• construction of a crossing for vehicles across a footway or grass verge or the strengthening or adaptation of a footway for use as a crossing for vehicles

'Temporary Traffic Control' (as defined by the Safety at Street Works and Road Works a Code of Practice) includes:

• give and take
• priority working
• stop and go
• portable traffic signals
• stop works boards

Granting, declining or applying conditions to a permit

West Berkshire Council can choose to grant a permit, apply conditions to a granted permit or decline permission for the proposed work to be carried out.

There are 5 categories for permit refusals and modification requests. See our  refusals and modification requests definitions guidance [58KB]  for further information.

Apply

The easiest way to apply is via Street Manager.

You can also apply by completing the  Street Works Permit application form [204KB]  and emailing it to streetworks@westberks.gov.uk.

Fees and charges as set out in part 10 of the Permit Scheme Order will apply according to the type of work you are planning to carry out.

Background to the scheme

The permit scheme was originally implemented in 2015 and was subsequently revised in 2017 and 2022. The most recent Permit Scheme Order came into force on 1 May 2022, following a consultation process. The Permit Scheme Order 2022 (see below) is in line with the requirements of the Department for Transport.

The following supporting documents provide background information about the introduction of the scheme, our aims, and the codes of conduct we operate to:

• Permit Scheme Order 2022 for West Berkshire Council [766KB]
• Street Works Permit - Evaluation Reports 2016 - 2018 (Years two and three) [3MB]
• Street works Permit - Evaluation Report 2021 (year six) [2MB]
• Street Works Permit - The South East Permit Scheme for Road Works and Street Works [277KB]
• Street Works Permit - West Berkshire Council Objectives [554KB]
• GOV.UK - The Traffic Management Act 2004 - Code of Practice for Permits
• GOV.UK - Street Works Co-ordination Code of Practice
• Highway Authorities and Utilities Committee (HAUC) - Advice Note Guidance for the Use of National Condition Text in Permit Schemes (England only)