Streetworks - London Permit Scheme (LoPS)
- Who keeps digging up our roads?
- Other reasons to dig up the highway
- Who can ask for permission to dig up the highway?
- Immediate (emergency or urgent) works
- Who to contact
- The Council's responsibilities
Hackney has been successful in its application to the Secretary of State, together with 17 other London boroughs and Transport for London, to run a common permitting scheme. The scheme requires a permit to be granted before works can be undertaken on the public highway, which will enable Hackney to have greater control of co-ordination and forward planning of all street works carried out by utilities, and our own highways works, enabling them to where possible co-ordinate works to reduce the disturbance and congestion which is caused by repeatedly digging up the road.
This new scheme will assist Hackney in adhering to the network management duties imposed through the Traffic Management Act 2004 legislation, which is to “keep London moving”.
The London Borough of Hackney has given notice to all stakeholders, as required under Section 17 of the Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2007, that they will be operating this permit scheme from 11 January 2010.
Read the complete LoPS document
Who keeps digging up our roads?
Nearly 60% of street works that take place in the borough are in fact carried out by private utility companies. Companies dig up the pavements and roads in order to install, renew or repair their equipment such as drains, cables, ducts or sewer, water and gas pipes.
Companies like gas and water suppliers need to dig up the highway to look after and maintain their pipes and to lay new supplies for houses, shops, factories and offices.
Hackney’s own highways need to dig up the highway to carry out repairs, change road layouts and keep it in a good condition.
Other reasons to dig up the highway:
- connect a private sewer pipe from a property to the main sewer
- make a vehicle crossing over a pavement or verge to allow cars to get to parking areas, driveways and garages
- put in ramps, so people with disabilities have better access to shops and offices
- allow someone to reach cellars, the foundations of buildings, or walls that are very close to or on the boundary of the highway
- dig small trial holes to find pipes and cables, or to check on ground conditions
- repair private pipes, cables or sewer connections.
Who can ask for permission to dig up the highway?
Work on the highway must be carried out by experienced operatives whose work is carried out according to the Specification for the Reinstatement of Openings in Highways a Code of Practice approve by the Secretary of State for Transport.
In most cases, some form of traffic control or pedestrian diversion is needed, which may delay the road users. We will try to ensure that these delays are kept to a minimum.
All the utility companies that work on public highways have to do so in accordance with the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 and the Traffic Management Act 2004. The main provisions are that they must comply with legal requirements regarding:
- safety of excavations
- reinstatement standards
- qualifications of staff and
- a permit from 11 January 2010
Approximately 10,000 works activities, which is an average of 10 activities per road, are received from utility companies each year and most relate to minor repair works. Hackney’s own highways officers carry out about 7,500 works per year, an average of 8 per road.
Immediate (emergency or urgent) works
By their very nature, these works are unplanned and there isn’t time to notify the local community by letter and a formal notice.Indeed the Highway Authority itself, is only notified within two hours of the start of these works or by 10am on the next working day. An immediate permit is issued in these circumstances and then the works promoter follows the normal permit application procedure. In certain situations, where there could be significant disruption to traffic, information about the work will be made available to the local radio and TV stations for broadcast.
Who to contact
How can I get more information about how to arrange these jobs?
You can contact Streetscene using the contact details on the right and we can give you information about:
- how to apply for a permit or s50 license if you are not a statutory undertaker
- documentation needed to apply for a s50 license
- costs involved in getting a s50 license or the permit fee
Who can I contact to obtain more information about the works?
Extracts from the street works register, showing most of the activities on the public highway, can be viewed on the Register of roadworks
If the works are being carried out by public utility companies you may want to get in touch with them directly. We can give you a telephone number of someone to call or you can view the contact details from the list of utilities licensed to work in the borough. Alternatively you can call the contact number shown on the information boards displayed on site.
Alternatively contact Streetscene using the contact details on the right.
The Works may cause a problem for me who can I speak to?
If you feel the work is likely to cause a particular problem for members of your family or business (eg. special deliveries, a house move, anyone with a mobility disability) then it is important you let us know so that we can see what special arrangements can be made. A contact name and telephone number will be given if a notification of works letter has been sent to you.
Alternatively contact Streetscene using the contact details on the right.
The Council's responsibilities
The Council is responsible for the co-ordination and monitoring of street works carried out by utility companies. Information on planned street works is entered into the streetworks register. The register contains information on:
- who is doing the work
- planned start and ends dates
- location of the works
- a description of the works
Monitoring of street works
As part of the monitoring process the Council inspects ten percent of the works carried out by utility companies. These inspections are done at each of three different stages every year. The company can incur a fine if they don't comply. In some cases the Council can complete the works itself, and charge the company for costs incurred.
When the permit scheme comes into place, anyone wanting to dig up the road will have to think carefully about the impact their works will have on motorists, pedestrians and local residents, and will have to find the best way to reduce that impact before they start.
Heavy fines will be imposed on those who do not adhere to the criteria, which include:
- Working without a permit – maximum fine level 5 (£5,000). May be discharged by paying a Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) of £500 discounted to £300 if paid in 29 days
- Contravening the conditions of a permit – maximum fine level 4 (£2,500). May be discharged by paying a FPN of £120 discounted to £80 if paid in 29 days
- NRSWA (EToN) offences – an FPN of £120 discounted to £80 if paid in 29 days
Quarterly coordination meetings are held with all the utility companies, the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London to discuss major planned projects and other related issues.
Page updated: 15 Jun 2010
.