A highway adoption is when we take over the maintenance of a private road.
If a road is classified as a private street it means that we, as the highway authority are under no obligation to carry out repairs or cleansing to the street, even though it could be a public right of way to which law can be applied.
Our transport development management team oversee the procedures for the adoption of new roads in the area to an acceptable standard so that we take on the maintenance responsibility.
Check if your road is adopted
You can use our map to check if your road is adopted, adopted roads are shown shaded in yellow.
The map of adopted streets provides a visual representation of the list of streets that we are responsible for maintaining at public expense. The list is not intended to be definitive and maybe subject to change when specific locations are reviewed, or additional evidence is presented.
If you have any queries about the status of a road regarding a purchase or sale of a property, you should get your own independent legal advice. We, to the extent permitted by law, do not accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising from use of this facility.
New roads
New roads which have been constructed in accordance with our guidelines are normally adopted by way of an agreement between the developer and us under section 38 of the Highways Act 1980.
Existing private streets
Existing private streets will not normally be adopted unless they are brought up to current adoptable standards by the owners of the street and at their own cost.
We will expect them to be improved accordingly if a street is:
- unpaved
- a cul-de-sac without a turning head
- without kerbs
- without footways or has sub-standard width footways
- without surface water sewers or has sub-standard surface water sewers
- without gullies or street lighting
- in generally poor condition
We may decide to raise the standard of a private street by providing any or all of the missing features or by improving any existing features.
These works are undertaken at the expense of the owners of the road or of the properties fronting onto it.
Access to highways
Any access to a classified road requires planning permission.
Access to a non-classified road is normally permitted if it is in association with 'permitted development rights' - for example, forming an access to a residential hardstanding area. However, any such 'permitted rights' do not normally allow an access to be formed in a dangerous location.
Anyone considering forming a new access (or extending an existing one) should contact us to check whether planning permission is required.
If you get planning permission or have permitted rights to create an access to the highway, you will need to apply for a dropped kerb.