Working in partnership to reduce delay and congestion on the road network in Solihull.
The Solihull Highway Works Permit Scheme went live on Monday 1 October 2018. The intention of the scheme is to:
- reduced disruption on the road network
- improvements to overall network management
- a reduction in delays to the travelling public
- a reduction in costs to businesses caused by delays
- promotion of a safer environment
- reduced carbon emissions
What is it?
Road and street works are an essential part of improving and maintaining the public highway network and utilities which are laid within it.
These works often reduce space and capacity on our network. When traffic flow is close to, or exceeds, the physical capacity of the street, it can cause delay and disruption which impacts all road users local residents and businesses. The scale of this disruption is dependent on the type of activities and the capacity of the street.
The Solihull Highway Works Permit Scheme will improve the strategic and operational management of the road network through better planning, scheduling and management of activities to minimise disruption to any people using the road or pavement.
We will be able to use it to co-ordinate activities throughout the highway network, making sure disruption to those competing for space or time in the street, including traffic, can be reduced in a positive and constructive way.
What has changed?
Currently, statutory undertakers, primarily Utility companies have rights to dig up and place their apparatus in the street subject to compliance with the notification requirements in the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA).
Part 3 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and associated Regulations (2007) give Councils the power to establish a new Permit Authority and operate a Permit Scheme requiring statutory undertakers (and Highway and Transport Authorities) to apply for a Permit before carrying out these works.
Activities requiring a permit
You will need a Permit if your activity includes:
- breaking up or resurfacing any street
- opening the carriageway or cycleway of traffic-sensitive streets at traffic sensitive times
- the need for any form of temporary traffic regulation order or notice, or the suspension of pedestrian crossing facilities
- reducing the lanes available on a carriageway of three or more lanes
- reducing the width of the existing carriageway of a traffic-sensitive street at a traffic sensitive time
If any of the above applies to your activity, please refer to the Solihull Permit Scheme document for details of the scheme.
Application and conditions
You can make an application for a Permit through an EToN 6 compliant noticing system.
We have adopted the nationally agreed Permit Scheme Conditions, developed and approved by the Highway Authorities and Utility Committee (England), as our standard conditions, including referencing.
Fees and benefits
Fees are applicable to any approved Permit. Details of the charges can be found in the Permit Scheme Fees Policy and Table.
A Cost Benefit Analysis was prepared to measure the costs and benefits to the local economy and society prior to deciding to introduce the Permit Scheme.
The analysis assesses the impact of Permits over the full range of required social and economic variables that have been specifically agreed in consultation with the UK Department for Transport (DfT).
The results of this analysis process indicates that the potential benefit to cost ratio of the scheme is 3.18:1 and therefore suggested that introducing the permit scheme will be beneficial to society.
Legislation and consultation
Part 3 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) introduced Permit Schemes as a new way in which we can manage activities in the public highway.
Formal consultation regarding the proposed Permit Scheme ran for a period of ten weeks beginning on Friday 17 November 2017 and the Permit Scheme Consultation Report was produced at the end of that process.