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Hertfordshire County Council

The county council as highway authority is a statutory consultee for all planning applications with transport impact, as well as authorising authority for any resulting highway works (under Section 278 and Section 38 agreements) required as part of a development.

Pre-application adviceConstruction Management plans Travel plansPlanning applications Section 278 agreement Road adoption (Section 38) Highway design guide Planning obligations and developer contributionsIncluding Section 106 agreements.

 

Pre-application advice

We welcome and encourage discussions on the transport impacts of new development proposals before a developer submits a planning application.  

By seeking transport pre-application advice, developers are able to work collaboratively with us to solve problems, enhance sustainability, improve the quality of designs and provide more certainty for stakeholders.  

Read more:


Email HighwaysPlanning@hertfordshire.gov.uk for more information.

 

Construction management plans


Construction management plan template (Word, 98kb)

The construction management plan template is not compulsory. It aims to:

  • ease the approval process
  • help developers to minimise the impact of construction activity, both on and off site, on the wider environment.

It is intended to be a live document - different stages will be completed and submitted for application as the development progresses.

 

Travel plans

Travel plan guidance document for business, residential and education development (March 2020).

Travel plans are essential for sustainable development and are an important tool in Hertfordshire County Council’s strategy to achieve the goals and objectives set out in Local Transport Plan 4 (PDF 9.1MB). Travel Plans are required by planning authorities for a wide range of development proposals, including commercial, educational institutional and residential developments.

 

Developers or employers interested in developing a transport strategy or travel plan with the aim of promoting more efficient and sustainable ways of travelling in the county are also invited to contact the Sustainable Transport Development Officers.



If you have any questions, email us at travelplans@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

 

Planning applications

We comment on all planning applications which have an impact on transport.

Contact your local district or borough council for information on planning applications.

Your district or borough council


The county council is the Local Planning Authority for planning applications involving mineral workings, waste management activities and our own services.


Section 278 agreement

As the highway authority, we give authorisation for any work on the highway.

Work cannot begin until the Section 278 agreement is completed and a bond (if necessary) is secured.

Please email your application form and supporting documents to DMPlanning@hertfordshire.gov.uk, then pay via bank transfer. We don't accept postal applications or cheques.


Any unauthorised work on the highway, undertaken without a Section 278 agreement (or other required highway consent), will result in enforcement action taken against the developer and / or contractor. That includes the recovery of costs.

Becoming an approved contractor to work on the public highway

Work on the public highway can only be undertaken by a contractor that we approve.

As the local highway authority in Hertfordshire, we provide a free assessment of contractors that want to undertake works on the public highway. 

How to apply
Email us a copy of:

  • your valid CHAS Certificate and a covering letter. You must be CHAS approved.
  • a copy of your £10million Public Liability Insurance
  • Proof of experience of working on the Highways
  • 2 references.


Do I need to be approved for s278, s38 and s50 works?
Yes, you must be approved by us to carry out these works on the public highway.

Even if we've approved you, you still need to get a Section 50 licence.


What constitutes breach or removal from the list?

  • Breach of any Highway related current Legislation, i.e. The Traffic Management Act, New Roads & Street Works Act and The Highways Act.
  • Failure to comply with current Safety at Street Works and Road Works (CoP).
  • Working on the highway without the required agreement or a permit being in place.
  • Repeated poor quality work.
  • Use of a non-approved sub-contractor.

For more information email  approved.contractor@hertfordshire.gov.uk.

 

Road adoption (Section 38)

New roads

New roads that have been constructed by developers will normally be adopted through a Section 38 Agreement.

Once a road is adopted it is ‘highway maintainable at public expense’.

Until a road is adopted, its maintenance remains the responsibility of either the developer/owner and/ or those living along the road.

Please email your application form and supporting documents to DMPlanning@hertfordshire.gov.uk, then pay via bank transfer. We don't accept postal applications or cheques.


Existing roads

If you would like to offer an existing road for adoption as highway
maintainable at public expense, the following criteria will need to be satisfied:

  • The road provides wider public utility
  • The road must be constructed to an adoptable standard
  • The road must be offered for adoption by the owner (usually the developer) of the road.
  • An Agreement under the terms of Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980 is made between the owner/developer and the County Council.

Find out if your road is adopted

 

Roads in Hertfordshire: Highway design guide

Our guide gives detailed design advice on road improvements made by the county council, its agents, developers or any other third party.

As well as setting out advice relating to the layout of roads and other highway features in Hertfordshire, the design guide describes the standards that must be met before adoption of highways can take place.

The public consultation for Hertfordshire’s Place & Movement Planning Design Guidance is now closed. Thank you to those that responded, and we are now considering the feedback received.

We have been pleased with how you have engaged with us and would encourage designers and architects to continue feedback to our Planners and Engineers.

This page will be updated again when we have the results of the consultation and a planned adoption date.

Highways design guide documents

 

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