FAQs

In this section you'll find the answers to some frequently asked questions received by the Highways Development Team.

Road adoption:

How do highways become public highways?

The current Highway Act dates from 1980, and includes powers used by a highway authority to adopt roads. For example, new housing estate roads are normally adopted under a Section 38 Agreement.

The highway authority keeps a list of all highways that it maintains which can be viewed at the Shirehall by appointment. You can make an appointment to check to see if a street or road is adopted by emailing: highwaysdevelopment@shropshire.gov.uk.

Can you tell me if a sewer is adopted?

Sewers are usually maintained by the water companies, and you should contact them. In Shropshire it will be:

There are drains maintained by us, for more information visit our drainage and flooding pages by following this link.

Can I get a copy of a Section 38 or Section 278 agreement?

If you'd like a copy of a legal agreement please email your request to HighwaysDevelopment@shropshire.gov.uk

The fees for these documents are:

Copy of Section 38/278 legal agreement and associated highway advice - £36
Copy of Section 38/278 agreement Deed of variation/novation - £24
Copy of Section 38/278 legal agreement bond - £18

The extent of the highway:

Can you provide me with a plan showing the extent of the highway?

There is normally a charge of £90 for providing a plan. Iff you require a large area, (for example for first estate registration), please email: highwaysdevelopment@shropshire.gov.uk to ask for an estimate of costs.

Can I pay for extents of highway or vehicular accesses applications with a credit card?

We can take payments if you are the card holder. For details please email: highwaysdevelopment@shropshire.gov.uk.

Vehicular access:

Do I need planning permission to create a vehicular access onto a public highway?

In general:

If the adjacent highway is unclassified, creating a vehicular access is permitted development when it accompanies other work to the property.
For highways with a higher category than unclassified, you will require planning permission.

There are other exceptions, for example you will need planning permission if:

You're in a conservation area
Have a listed building
Have a tree preservation order.

The planning authority can advise you accordingly, phone: 0345 678 9004

Do I need permission to construct a vehicular access over a verge or footway?

If the access crosses a verge or footway, you'll need an S184 (Highways Act) crossing consent. You can download the form - Apply for Vehicle Access - by following this link.

Street signs:

My street sign is missing or damaged. Who do I need to contact?

You can use the online reporting form by following this link.

Alternatively, you can report the problem to Customer Services by calling 0345 678 9006

Can I erect a sign on the highway?

Signs on the highway must meet strict criteria and be authorised by the highway authority. This is for highway safety reasons. No other signs are allowed on the highway. If you wish to ask for a sign on the public highway - for example, a brown tourist sign - please refer to our Traffic Management pages by following this link.

Planning:

There is a planning application near me which I am concerned about. Can I see the highway authority comments to the planning?

Our response to planning is open to public inspection. You can access our comments using the Planning Portal (follow this link). You can also make an appointment to view the planning file by phoning: 0345 678 9004.

I am concerned that a planning application nearby will make the roads more dangerous. To whom should I write to express my concerns?

You should write to the planners with any concerns you might have. The planning system is designed to allow for public opinion to be fed into it. Planners consider all the evidence and representations before them, and must then attach such weight as they consider appropriate to the various issues, before making a decision on the planning application.

Can you tell me who owns a parcel of land?

We can if it's a building or parcel of land that belongs to us. Follow this link to our Assets and Estates webpages to find out more. To find out who owns other land, you should contact the Land Registry, follow this link to visit their website).

I've bought a house on a new estate within which the developer tells me there is a grassed service strip. What is a grassed service strip?

The service strip forms part of the highway, normally 1.8 metres wide from the road edge, delineated by an edging kerb. It usually has electricity cable, telephone cable, water and gas pipes at varying depths running beneath it. It is important for safety reasons to control what happens in the service strips. It is possible to maintain the service strip as part of your garden.

Can you provide me with copies of Ordnance Survey plans?

The licence agreement we have with the Ordnance Survey doesn't allow us to give you copies from Ordnance Survey maps, although you can buy them from retailers. More information can be found by following this link to the Ordnance Survey website.

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