Street Works Licence (SWL) application requirements and information
A SWL to work on new or existing apparatus in the highway, will only be granted to:
- the owner(s) of apparatus, or
- their 'Successor in Title'
It is the legal duty of the owners to make sure that the apparatus is always properly maintained.
Fees
A non-refundable application fee is charged when applying for a SWL.
Submitting and paying for an application does not guarantee approval.
Applicants will need to wait for approval confirmation before starting any works.
Once an application has been approved, additional fees will be applied.
These are:
Deposit
Depending on the size of works, a deposit to cover any damage to the highway, (minimum £1000).
The deposit is calculated when processing the application and the total amount is provided if an application is approved.
The deposit will be held until the works guarantee period ends and is released after the final inspection.
Inspection/s
When digging up the highway. A minimum of 3 inspections are required for each 200m length of the highway or part thereof, there is non-refundable fee for each inspection. The number of required inspections is calculated when the application is processed and the total cost for inspections is provided if the application is approved.
On approval, all fees must be paid before any works can take place. Our latest fees can be found on our website: Council Fees and Charges. These fees are subject to review and change from time to time.
Traffic Management
If the proposed street works requires traffic management such as:
- full road closure/diversions
- taxi rank suspension
- parking bay suspension
- bus stop suspension
Applicants will need to apply for additional permits/permissions. Visit our Notice periods page for the required notice you need to give and the contact details for each relevant permit.
Public Liability Insurance
The licence holder must hold Public Liability Insurance and it must:
- provide a minimum £10milion cover
- be in place from the start of the works right up to the acceptance of the completed works by the Council
- indemnify the Council against any claim in respect of injury damage or loss arising from the works
The Licensee must provide ongoing indemnity for the Council against any claim in respect of injury, damage or loss arising out of:
- the presence in the highway of apparatus to which the licence relates
- the carrying out of any works authorised by the licence