Sometimes as part of development work a new structure, for example a bridge, culvert or retaining wall is required and the Council may agree to 'adopt' it and become responsible for maintaining it.

If a structure is offered for adoption, the Team Leader for Structures and Street Lighting will oversee the process. This will include completion of Technical Approval (ie. Approval in Principle, design/check certification), meeting specific design and construction standards and agreement of a commuted sum for the structure’s maintenance.

Construction must not begin until the required Technical Approval documents have been signed off, planning permission has been granted, the related planning conditions have been discharged and the commuted sum has been agreed.

Fees are applicable for Technical Approval and inspection of works. These will comprise an initial non-refundable £500 charge prior to commencement of any work by the Council.

There will then follow a more accurate estimate of fees, which will be generated on a scheme specific basis. 

The Council reserves the right to change the estimated fees during a scheme, particularly if Technical Approval or inspection becomes more protracted than could reasonably be expected.  

For further details, please contact phone 01234 276128.

If the structure is within land which is already highway maintained at the public expense it will be subject to a Section 278 Agreement. If it is being offered to the Council as public highway as part of a development it will require a Section 38 Agreement. 

In these cases there will be a combined fee for the highways and structures approval process and it will be managed either by the Senior Project Engineer (S278 and Civils) or the Senior Highways Agreements Officer who must be contacted in the first instance.