Highways Act 1980

Part 1 includes sections 1 to 9 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Highway Authorities
• Agreements between authorities

 

Part 2 includes sections 10 to 23 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Trunk roads
• Classified roads
• Metropolitan roads
• Special roads (such as motorways)

 

Part 3 includes sections 24 to 35 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Creation of new highways
• Creation of new footpaths and bridleways
• Dedication of highways

 

Private landowners sometimes display a notice quoting Section 31, when there is no dedication of a public right of way.^[1]

Part 4 includes sections 36 to 61 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Highways maintainable at public expense, and their maintenance
• Maintenance of privately maintainable highways
• Powers covering enforcement of liabilities and recovery of costs
• Defence in respect of specific matters in legal action against a highway authority for damages for non-repair of highway

 

Under Section 38 of the Act, the highway authority may agree to adopt private roads.^[2] The authority can agree to adopt the street as a highway maintainable at public expense when all the street works have been carried out to their satisfaction, within a stated time. It is customary for the developer to enter into a bond for their performance with a bank or building society.

Part 5 includes sections 62 to 105 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Various powers to improve highways including – but not limited to:
  • Widening of highways
  • Installation of guardrails
  • Construction, reconstruction and improvement of bridges and the like

 

Part 6 includes sections 106 to 111 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Construction of bridges over and tunnels under navigable waters
• Diversions of watercourses

 

Part 7 includes sections 112 to 115 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Provision of picnic sites.
• Provision of public conveniences.
• Provision of areas for parking heavy goods vehicles.

Part 8 includes sections 116 to 129 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Stopping up and diversion of highways
• Stopping up means of access to highways

Part 9 includes sections 130 to 185 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Protection of public rights
• Damage to highways
• Obstruction of highways
• Danger or annoyance to highway users
• Precautions to be taken in doing certain works
• Request the highway authority to construct a vehicle crossing over a footway or verge in the highway

Part 10 includes sections 186 to 202 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• New street byelaws
• Requirements and prohibitions as to new streets
• Enforcement of byelaws

Part 11 includes sections 203 to 237 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• The private street works code
• The advance payments code
• General powers relating to private streets

Part 12 includes sections 238 to 271 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Acquisition of land for highway works
• Compensation relating to compulsory acquisition of land
• Vesting of land
• Transfer of property and liability when the status of a highway changes

Part 13 includes sections 272 to 281 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Various rules on financial transactions relating to highways

A Section 278 Agreement allows private developers to either fund or complete works to public highways outside or beyond the development site itself, such as traffic calming and capacity improvements.^[3] The document is signed by the local highway authority and the developer to ensure that works are completed to the highway authority's satisfaction.

Part 14 includes sections 282 to 345 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Various supplementary powers including – but not limited to:

Inquiries

Disputes over compensation

Prosecutions and appeals

Regulations, schemes and orders

The Act contains 26 schedules.

• Highway Act
• Highways in the United Kingdom

• Text of the Highways Act 1980 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk.