Managing the impact of street works

Transport Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 6 Dec 2024 Closed: 4 Mar 2026 Parliament page
Street works are works carried out by utility companies to install, repair or maintain their services, which involve digging up roads or pavements. (These are distinct from works being done to the road itself). Although necessary to provide utility services, street works can be disruptive to road and pavement users … Read more
7 Recommendations
11 Conclusions
1 Report
3 Oral sessions
1 Letter
3 Events
Activity timeline 9 events
12 Sep
2025
Report published
3 Jul
2025
Report published
30 Apr
2025
Oral evidence
30 Apr
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
19 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
19 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
5 Mar
2025
Oral evidence
5 Mar
2025
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · Room 16, Palace of Westminster
8 Jan
2025
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 3 sessions
30 Apr 2025
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Anthony Ferguson · Department for Transport Lilian Greenwood MP · Department for Transport
19 Mar 2025
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Councillor Adam Hug · Local Government Association Jane James · Shropshire Council Kate Carpenter · Chartered Institution of Highways & Transportation Kevin Hamilton · Scottish Road Works Commissioner Neil Edwards · Kent County Council Sarah Widdows · JAG(UK) Tony Hemingway · Transport for Greater Manchester
5 Mar 2025
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Clive Bairsto · Street Works UK Emma Vogelmann · Transport for All Jack Cousens · The AA Mark Whittaker · Cadent Gas Limited Mr Keith McNally · Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) Till Sommer · Internet Services Providers' Association
Title HC No. Published Items Response
2nd Report - Managing the impact of street works HC 522 3 Jul 2025 18 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
7 results
Clear
2 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report - Managing the impact o…
Impose full overrun charges for street works leaving equipment/signs post-completion.
Leaving equipment or signs in place that imply to the public that street works are still ongoing when they have finished should attract a full overrun charge. (Recommendation, Paragraph 22)
Government Response
The government agrees in principle that road closure signage should indicate the exact location but expresses concerns about potential safety risks. It commits to taking the recommendation away for further consideration with safety experts to balance clarity and safety.
Department for Transport
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8 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report - Managing the impact o…
Increase standard guarantee period for all excavations to five years and fine companies for repeat repairs.
The current guarantee period of two or three years for reinstatements after works, the latter being for deep excavations, is too short given that reinstatements should last more than ten years if carried out correctly. The Department should increase the … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focused on monitoring the use of immediate permits and updating the Co-ordination Code of Practice for clarity, rather than addressing the recommended increase in guarantee periods for excavations or fines for remedial work.
Department for Transport
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9 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report - Managing the impact o…
Reinstatement defect inspection process ineffective due to weak incentives for utility companies.
The process whereby authorities inspect reinstatements for defects after works are complete is not working as well as it should be, with weak incentives for utility companies to fix the defects promptly, or at all, once they have been found … Read more
Government Response
The government focused on the existing Street Manager platform's open data for street works and its use by third-party services, rather than addressing the problems with the inspection process for reinstatements or incentives for fixing defects.
Department for Transport
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10 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report - Managing the impact o…
Introduce timescales, escalating fines for faulty reinstatements, and lift the two-cycle inspection cap.
The Department should introduce timescales for companies to repair faulty reinstatements, with meaningfully increasing fines if they fail to do so on time. The fine should increase each time a deadline has not been met, and the company responsible should … Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledges the need for review regarding faulty reinstatements and commits to engaging with HAUC to understand if their position on the two-cycle inspection cap has changed or if new evidence warrants revisiting it, rather than directly committing to introduce timescales, increasing fines, or lifting the cap.
Department for Transport
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11 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report - Managing the impact o…
Existing street works dispute resolution process inefficient, leading to resource-intensive legal disagreements.
The current dispute resolution process does not seem to be working well. Disagreements relating to the interpretation of street works legislation can end up as legal disputes which are resource intensive for authorities and utility companies alike. (Conclusion, Paragraph 53) Read more
Government Response
The government acknowledged issues with coordinating street works for new housing developments and committed to exploring options with MHCLG to encourage early sharing of utility connection plans, but did not address the recommendation about improving the dispute resolution process for interpreting street works legislation.
Department for Transport
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12 Conclusion Deferred
2nd Report - Managing the impact o…
Consider establishing a Street Works Commissioner or alternative independent dispute resolution function.
The Department for Transport should consider setting up a Street Works Commissioner in England to help ensure the consistent application and interpretation of legislation, provide an option for independent dispute resolution and monitor performance across the sector. This would provide … Read more
Government Response
The government's response focused on lane rental schemes as a tool to reduce disruption from street works and mentioned publishing results of a consultation on devolving approval powers for these schemes, completely avoiding the recommendation for a Street Works Commissioner or alternative dispute resolution body.
Department for Transport
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13 Recommendation Deferred
2nd Report - Managing the impact o…
Consult on amending permit scheme guidance to incentivise earlier completion of street works.
The Department for Transport should consult on amending guidance for permit schemes so that fees incentivise completion of works earlier than the period allowed for by a permit. (Recommendation, Paragraph 57)
Government Response
The government states that the current legal framework already permits authorities to offer fee discounts for early completion of works and incentivise efficient practices. It commits to engaging with highway authorities to understand how these existing powers are being used and to identify if further amendments to guidance are required, rather than directly consulting on amendments as recommended.
Department for Transport
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Government Response AI assessment · 18 of 7 classified
Accepted 7
Acknowledged 1
Deferred 7
Rejected 3
Total 7 recs + 11 conclusions
Correspondence 1 letter
8 Jan 2025 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Transport relating to local highways maintenance and street works measure, dated 20 December 2024
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