Highways licences

Related links

Highways licences

On this page:

» Scaffolding Licence
» Hoarding Licence
» Skip Licence
» Building Materials Licence


Scaffolding Licence

If you wish to erect scaffolding on the public highway you will need to apply for a licence.

How to apply:

To ensure compliance with licence conditions, applications will only be accepted from Scaffolding Companies. Building contractors and residents cannot apply.

To apply, the Scaffolding Company will need to complete the application form which can downloaded from our website.

Send the completed application form:

Email: londonpermitscheme@lbhf.gov.uk

Application period:

Please allow a minimum of 5 working days to process your licence.

Administration fee of £58 if licence is required in less than 5 working days

Fees and method of payment

Residential measuring up to 10m in length
£191 for the first month
£107 for each further month.

Commercial single frontage and residential sites measuring up to 15m in length
£246 for the first month
£161 for each further month

Any site measuring more than 15m in length
£513 for first month
£214 for each further month

A £250 damage deposit applies which is refundable on completion following a satisfactory post inspection.

You can pay by credit or debit card.  Please note a handling fee of 1.25% will automatically be added to all credit card payments.  Cheque payments are accepted as well and should be sent to the address on the application form.

Please note Licence fees are non refundable unless a site deemed unsuitable for erecting scaffolding by the Council.

Licence renewal:

The licensee [Scaffolding Company] must renew the licence 7 days before the expiry date.  Please note if you do not renew your licence you could be given a Fixed Penalty Notice.

» Download a scaffolding/hoarding licence application form (pdf 62KB). Please print the form, complete and return it with your payment to the Transport and Technical Services Reception (fax number/postal address given on the form).

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SCAFFOLDING LICENCE
ISSUED UNDER SECTION 169 HIGHWAYS ACT 1980
CONTROL OF SCAFFOLDING ON HIGHWAYS
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS ACT 1984
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT 1974

The licensee (the scaffolding company) is entirely responsible for the scaffolding and must adhere to the following terms and conditions.

Failure to comply with these terms and conditions may result in enforcement action, including fixed penalty notices and/or prosecution.

If any of the requirements of this Licence are not complied with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham may take such measures as necessary to mark, guard, light or remove the scaffold and clean and repair the highway and the licensee shall be liable for the costs incurred in such measures.

  1. The licensee shall not leave the scaffold on the public highway unlicensed.
  2. A laminated copy of the licence (or subsequent renewal) shall be displayed on site in a visible position whilst the scaffolding is erected.
  3. The licensee shall ensure safe access for pedestrians is maintained at all times.  This is to include a clear and protected footway or temporary footway width of 1.5 metres minimum.
  4. The licensee shall ensure no existing road sign or line is obstructed or rendered less effective by the construction of the scaffold.
  5. The erection and removal of the scaffolding shall take place between enter times.
  6. The scaffold poles shall be covered with red and white tape for high visibility.
  7. No cross poles should be placed across the footway between ground level and first lift level.
  8. The first level shall be closed double boarded and all levels to have kick/toe boards.
  9. The upper levels shall have netting attached to prevent any debris from falling onto the public highway.
  10. Clear headroom of 2.6 metres shall be provided above sections of the footway where a gantry is present for pedestrians to walk through.
  11. Pole base plates (either metal or plastic) shall be in place to protect the footway.
  12. Scaffold boards are not to be placed underneath poles or base plates.
  13. The scaffold shall be lit during the hours of darkness using bulk head lights (60 watt minimum) attached to the poles at 3 metre spacing, white bulk head lights at the back of the footway and red bulk head lights facing the carriageway.
  14. Poles, boards or associated fittings are not to be stored on the highway during erecting and dismantling the scaffold.
  15. The scaffold company name and contact details shall be clearly displayed on the structure.
  16. The licensee shall remove or reposition the scaffold if required by the police, the Council or statutory undertaker’s access to their apparatus.
  17. All ladders or climbing aids should be removed and locked away each evening to prevent unauthorised persons from climbing the scaffold.
  18. The licensee shall keep the gantry (if applicable), footway and roadside around the scaffold free from rubbish or obstruction.
  19. The scaffold must remain in use by the licensee, new contractors will need to make a new licence application in order to take over the licence of a scaffold.
  20. The licensee shall notify the Highways Licensing and Enforcement Team when the scaffold has been removed.
  21. The licensee shall have public liability insurance of £5 million to work on the public highway. Failure to have insurance would result in your licence becoming invalid.
  22. The scaffold shall not be used for advertising purposes without consent in writing (planning permission) from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Planning team.

Erection of scaffolding:

  1. The scaffold shall be erected, used and dismantled in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and compliance with the relevant safety legislation including the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and BS EN 12811-1:2003, the codes of practice for areas and working scaffolds and special scaffold structures in steel. There MUST be compliance with the H.S.E (Health and Safety Executive) conditions and guidance notes and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
  2. The licensee shall ensure all personnel working with the scaffold are competent and efficient and take all the relevant and necessary safety precautions.
  3. The licensee shall undertake the erection of the scaffold in off peak hours i.e. early morning, at night or weekends. This is very important where the location is within a town centre, or a busy pedestrian area. In quiet streets, the times may be negotiated. In ALL cases, the times of erecting the scaffold shall be agreed in advance with the Council.
  4. Where a temporary footway closure is required as part of the licence, or for erecting the scaffold, a pedestrian and traffic management plan shall be agreed in writing, in advance with Council, to safely divert pedestrians and /or traffic.
  5. The licensee is responsible for providing a pedestrian and traffic management plan to include the signing and guarding of the site, in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual 1991, and the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice.
  6. The licensee is responsible for the suspension of any parking bays and for providing all banksmen, signage, barriers, ramps etc as agreed in the traffic management plan. These items shall be checked and secured in the correct position each morning prior to commencing work.
  7. The licensee shall ensure the scaffold is removed on or before the expiry of the licence unless an application for a renewal of the licence has been made to, and authorised by, the Council.
  8. Where Planning Permission, Building Control approval or any other consent is required for the proposed works, the relevant authorisation shall be in place PRIOR to requesting a licence and placing a scaffold on site.
  9. Poles, boards or associated fittings are not to be stored on the highway during erecting and dismantling the scaffold.
  10. The licensee shall notify the Council when the scaffold has been removed.

Refunds:

In order to obtain a refund of any damage deposit paid, the licensee should call or write to the Council to state the date the scaffold was removed. Before issuing a refund, a post inspection will be conducted to check the condition of the public highway (a pre inspection is also conducted prior to the scaffold being erected). If damage to the highway is found then no refund will be given.

Please Note – All refunds are issued by cheque to the licensee. The cheque is raised by the Finance Department and this process may take up to 30 days.

Top of page


Hoarding Licence

If you wish to erect a hoarding on the public highway you will need to apply for a licence.

How to apply:

To ensure compliance with licence conditions, applications will only be accepted from Building contractors and some cases applications from residents can be accepted.

To apply, the building contractor or resident will need to complete the application form which can downloaded from our website.

Send the completed application form.

» Download a scaffolding/hoarding licence application form (pdf 62KB). Please print the form, complete and return it with your payment to the Transport and Technical Services Reception (fax number/postal address given on the form).

Email: londonpermitscheme@lbhf.gov.uk

Application period:

Please allow a minimum of 5 working days to process your licence.

Administration fee of £58 if licence is required in less than 5 working days

Fees and method of payment:

Residential measuring up to 10m in length
£191 for the first month
£107 for each further month.

Commercial single frontage and residential sites measuring up to 15m in length
£246 for the first month
£161 for each further month

Any site measuring more than 15m in length
£513 for the first month then £214 for each further month

A £250 damage deposit applies which is refundable on completion following a satisfactory post inspection.

You can pay by credit or debit card. Please note a handling fee of 1.25% will automatically be added to all credit card payments.  Cheque payments are accepted as well and should be sent to the address on the application form.

Please note Licence fees are non refundable unless a site deemed unsuitable for erecting hoarding by the Council.

Licence renewal:

The licensee must renew the licence 7 days before the expiry date. Please note if you do not renew your licence you could be given a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Erection of Hoarding/conveyor:

The hoarding and conveyor shall be erected and dismantled in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines and compliance with the relevant safety legislation and standards. There shall be compliance with the HSE [Health and Safety Executive] conditions and guidance notes, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Highways Act 1980.

  1. The licensee is NOT permitted to drill through the public highway to place support poles for the hoarding without prior authorisation and advance payment for the cost of repair. Please note - only Council approved contractors are authorised to make repairs to the public highway.
  2. The licensee shall ensure all personnel working with the hoarding and conveyor are competent and efficient and take all the relevant and necessary safety precautions.
  3. Where spoil is being removed from a property, via a conveyor overhanging the footway, into a skip on the road, the licensee shall ensure the entire conveyor and skip is completed hoarded in to fully contain the spoil and prevent it falling onto pedestrians, vehicles or the footway.
  4. The licensee shall undertake the erection of the hoarding in off peak hours i.e. early morning, at night or at weekends. This is very important where the location is within a town centre, or a busy pedestrian area. In quiet streets, the times may be negotiated. In ALL cases, the times of erecting the hoarding and conveyor shall be agreed in advance with the Council.
  5. The licensee shall ensure the public footway is NOT closed off to pedestrians without prior authorisation for a footway closure from the Council.
  6. Where a footway closure is required as part of the licence or temporarily for erecting the hoarding and conveyor, a pedestrian and traffic management plan shall be agreed in writing, in advance with the Council, to safely divert pedestrians and /or traffic.
  7. The licensee is responsible for providing a pedestrian and traffic management plan to include the signing and guarding of the site, in accordance with Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual 1991, and the Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice.
  8. The licensee is responsible for the suspension of any parking bays and for providing all banks men, signage, barriers, ramps etc as agreed in the traffic management plan. These items shall be checked and secured in the correct position each morning prior to commencing work.
  9. Permission for hoarding does NOT extend to the parking of vehicles or loading or unloading of materials.  The licensee shall ensure all parking, loading and waiting restrictions are adhered to.
  10. Boards, drills or associated fittings are not to be stored on the highway during erecting and dismantling the hoarding.
  11. The hoarding company name and contact details shall be clearly displayed on the structure.
  12. Where Planning Permission, Building Control approval or any other consent is required for the proposed works, the relevant authorisation shall be in place prior to requesting a licence and placing a hoarding and conveyor on site.

Refunds:

In order to obtain a refund of any damage deposit paid, the licensee should call or write to the Council to state the date the scaffold was removed. Before issuing a refund, a post inspection will be conducted to check the condition of the public highway (a pre inspection is also conducted prior to the scaffold being erected). If damage to the highway is found then no refund will be given.

Please Note – All refunds are issued by cheque to the licensee.   The cheque is raised by the Finance Department and this process may take up to 30 days.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF HOARDING LICENCE
ISSUED UNDER SECTION 172 HIGHWAYS ACT 1980-
HOARDINGS TO BE SET UP DURING BUILDING ETC.
ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATIONS ACT 1984
HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK ETC. ACT 1974

The licensee (the building contractor) is entirely responsible for the hoarding, conveyor or footway closure and MUST adhere to the following terms and conditions.

  1. The licensee shall ensure the hoarding and conveyor is removed on or before the expiry of the licence unless an application for a renewal of the licence has been made to, and authorised by, the HL&E team.
  2. The licensee shall comply with any direction or instruction to amend the hoarding and conveyor given by Council Officers.
  3. The licensee shall not alter the dimensions or position of the hoarding and conveyor without the prior consent from the Highways Licensing and Enforcement Team.
  4. The licensee shall remove or reposition the hoarding and conveyor if required by the police, the Council or statutory undertaker’s access to their apparatus.
  5. The licensee shall keep the footway and roadside around the hoarding and conveyor free from rubbish or obstruction.
  6. The licensee shall ensure the hoarding, conveyor and site workers do not cause a nuisance, disturbance or danger to the occupiers of adjoining property or the users of the highway.
  7. The licence will become invalid if the licensee no longer has an interest in the project. The licensee shall inform the Council if no longer involved as this will affect the damage deposit refund process. Please note - Any new contractors will need to make a new licence application in order to take over the licence of a hoarding and conveyor.
  8. If any damage has been caused to the public highway by the hoarding and conveyor or associated works at the licensed site, then the licensee shall pay the full cost of repair. In this event the damage deposit will not be refunded.
  9. The licensee shall have public liability insurance of £5 million to work on the public highway. Failure to have insurance would result in your licence becoming invalid.
  10. The licensee shall make no claim against the Council in the event of the hoarding and conveyor being stolen, lost or damaged in anyway from any cause.
  11. The Council is indemnified against all claims resulting from an incident caused by the hoarding and conveyor during its operation.
  12. The hoarding and conveyor shall not be used for advertising purposes without consent in writing (planning permission) form the Council.
  13. The licensee shall ensure the hoarding is free from graffiti marking and fly postings.
  14. The licensee shall comply with ALL the terms and conditions listed in the above sections, and any Special Conditions imposed on the licence and any subsequent directions, to the satisfaction of the Council.
  15. If any of the requirements of this Licence are not complied with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham may take such measures as necessary to mark, guard, light or remove the hoarding and conveyor and clean and repair the highway and the licensee shall be liable for the costs incurred in such measures.
  16. Failure to comply with ALL the terms and conditions listed in the above sections may result in serving a Fixed Penalty Notice.

Top of page


Skip Licence

If you wish to place a skip on the public highway you will need to apply for a licence and suspend a parking bay in advance.

How to apply:

To ensure compliance with licence conditions applications will only be accepted from the skip hire company. Residents cannot apply.

To apply, the skip hire company will need to complete the application form. This application form will cover both the parking bay suspension and the licence. You will not need to make two separate applications.

You can download and print the application form, or request it by telephone from Parking Services Office on 020 7371 5678.

» Download an application form for a skip licence/parking bay suspension (pdf 100KB)

Apply by fax:

Completed application forms should be faxed to the Parking Bay Suspensions Team on 020 8753 3267. Your application should be received at our offices by 12pm no later than on the 8th day before the date requested.

Apply by post:

Send the completed application form to LBHF Parking Services, PO Box 57142, London SW6 2WZ. Please allow plenty of time for your application to reach us.

Apply by email:

Completed application forms can be emailed to: parkingsuspensions@lbhf.gov.uk.

Bay Suspension Notice Period – minimum of eight days notice

In order to provide reasonable notice to other road users, we need to place signs around the parking bays that are going to be suspended to place the skip. To allow us to do this, there are notice periods for parking bay suspension requests. Your application form must be submitted at least eight days in advance of the date you wish to place the skip on the highway.

Fees and payment method:

The skip licence fee for a month is £62 and £54 for each further month. The parking bay suspension will cost £35 per bay (for 5 metres) per day.

You can pay by credit or debit card by completing your card details on the application form.

Please note a handling fee of 1.25% will automatically be added to all credit card payments.

Please note Licence fees are non refundable unless a site is deemed unsuitable for the location of a skip by a Highways Officer and no alternative location can be agreed on.

We do not accept postal payment by cheque.

Terms and Conditions:

The licensee [the skip company] is entirely responsible for the skip and must adhere to the following Terms and Conditions.

The licensee [the skip company] must indemnify the Council against any liability, loss, claim or proceeding whatsoever arising under Statute or Common Law in respect of depositing and maintaining of the skip on the highway or its removal there from.

Failure to comply with these terms and conditions may result in enforcement action, including fixed penalty notices and/or prosecution.

If any of the requirements of this Licence are not complied with, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham may take such measures as necessary to mark, guard, light or remove the skip and clean and repair the highway and the licensee shall be liable for the costs incurred in such measures.

  1. The skip shall not be left on the public highway unlicensed.
  2. The skip shall not be deposited outside the agreed location specified on the licence.
  3. A laminated copy of the licence (or subsequent renewal) shall be displayed prominently at the site whilst the skip is on the public highway
  4. The skip shall be clearly marked with the owners name, telephone number and address
  5. The skip shall have affixed below and right across the top edge of each end, a strip of striped material complying with the Builders’ Skips (Markings) Regulations 1984, having broad red and yellow reflective or fluorescent stripes which shall at all times be kept clear
  6. At night (i.e. between ½ hour after sunset and ½ hour before sunrise) the skip shall be lit as follows:
  7. Where no traffic cones are required a lamp shall be placed against or attached to each corner of the skip or the end corners of a row of skips where a licence has been granted for two or more skips to be deposited in a row and the distance between adjacent skips does not exceed two metres.
  8. Where traffic cones are required but in addition a lamp shall be placed between each cone and the next.
  9. Each lamp shall have an illuminated power of not less than one candela, shall be clearly visible to all traffic and shall remain lit during the hours of darkness.
  10. The skip shall be kept securely covered at all times except when being filled, and always between the hours of 7pm and 7am, and during football matches.
  11. The site and surrounding area of the skip shall be kept in a clean and tidy condition and properly dispose of any materials placed in or around the skip (whether by the person to whom the licence is granted or any other person).
  12. The skip shall not be used in such a way that any of its contents fall onto the highway, or that there is an escape of dust from the contents of the skip.
  13. The skip shall be removed or repositioned at the request of the Police the Council or statutory undertakers to access their apparatus.
  14. There shall be no flammable, explosive, noxious or dangerous material, or material which is likely to putrefy or become a nuisance shall be put into the skip.
  15. There shall no planks will be placed on the footway to facilitate filling the skip.
  16. The skip shall not be deposited so that it impedes any surface water drainage or obstructs access to any inspection chamber or apparatus of any statutory undertaker or the Council.

Renewals:

If you need to extend or renew parking bay suspension please allow a minimum of two working days and must have a valid skip licence.

Enforcement:

Enforcement officers will be patrolling the streets of the borough on a regular basis to make sure that all skips are legitimately sited; adhering to the Terms and Conditions set out in the licence and promptly removed following their licence expiry.

Therefore as the licensee, you will be responsible for compliance with all terms and conditions of the license.
If you fail to comply with the terms and conditions of the license you may be given with a Fixed Penalty Notice and do not follow any subsequent instructions from enforcement officers to rectify the problem, you may be liable to prosecution under Highways Act 1980.

If you fail to remove your skip on time or place it on the highway without a valid licence and parking bay suspension, you may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice and/or we may remove the skip and recharge the cost to you.

If you require any further information on the licence procedure please contact the Parking Bay Suspension Team on 020 7371 5678 or the Transport and Technical Services Contact Centre on 020 8753 1081.

Refunds:

Cancellations or changes

  1. Should you need to change the suspension you have booked, you must contact Parking Services in writing at lease 8 days before the new date required
  2. We must be given at lease two working days notice for all cancellations otherwise no refund will be issued.
  3. Please note: there is a fee of £35 for each cancellation or change.

Top of page


Building Materials Licence

If you wish to place a building materials on the public highway you will need to apply for a licence and suspend a parking bay in advance.

How to apply:

To apply, you will need to complete the application form. This application form will cover both the parking bay suspension and the licence. You will not need to make two separate applications.

» Download an application form for a licence/parking suspension to place building materials on the highway (pdf 90KB)

You can download and print the application form, or request it by telephone Parking Services on 020 7371 5678.

Apply by fax:

Completed application forms should be faxed to the Parking Bay Suspensions Team on 020 8753 3267. Your application should be received at our offices by 12pm no later than on the 8th day before the date requested.

Apply by post:

Send the completed application form to LBHF Parking Services, PO Box 57142, London SW6 2WZ. Please allow plenty of time for your application to reach us.

Apply by email:

Completed application forms can be emailed to: parkingsuspensions@lbhf.gov.uk.

Bay Suspension Notice Period – minimum of eight days notice

In order to provide reasonable notice to other road users, we need to place signs around the parking bays that are going to be suspended to place the building materials. To allow us to do this, there are notice periods for parking bay suspension requests. Your application form must be submitted at least eight days in advance of the date you wish to place the building materials on the highway.

Fees and payment method:

The building materials licence fee for a month is £62 and £54 for each further month. The parking bay suspension will cost £35 per bay (for 5 metres) per day.

You can pay by credit or debit card by completing your card details on the application form.

Please note a handling fee of 1.25% will automatically be added to all credit card payments.

Please note Licence fees are non refundable unless a site is deemed unsuitable for the location of the building materials by a Highways Officer and no alternative location can be agreed on.

We do not accept postal payment by cheque

Terms and Conditions:

The licensee is entirely responsible for the building materials and must adhere to the following Terms and Conditions.

Failure to comply with these terms and conditions may result in enforcement action, including fixed penalty notices and/or prosecution.

If any of the requirements of this Licence are not complied with, the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham may take such measures as remove the building materials and clean and repair the highway and the licensee shall be liable for the costs incurred in such measures.

  1. The building materials shall not be left on the public highway unlicensed. Please note: to extend your licence and parking bay suspension renewal application forms must be in 2 working days prior to expiry dates.
  2. The building materials shall not be deposited outside the agreed location specified on the licence.
  3. A laminated copy of the licence (or subsequent renewal) shall be displayed prominently at the site whilst the building materials are on the public highway.
  4. The drainage channel must be kept clear of building materials at all times.
  5. Deposited building materials must not exceed more than one parking bay [5 metres in length, 2 metres in width and 1.2 metres in height.
  6. Building materials deposited on the public highway must be guarded by at least three traffic cones.
    (a) Where traffic cones are required as in (a) above but in addition a lamp shall be placed at each corner of the building materials. Each lamp shall have an illuminated power of not less than one candela, shall be clearly visible to all traffic and shall remain lit during the hours of darkness.
  7. If required by the Council, building materials or other things, such as a portaloo may need to surrounded by a hoarding.
  8. Remove the building materials from the highway or reposition it if required by the police or representative of the Council especially on event days for example football matches.
  9. The site and surrounding area shall be kept in a clean and tidy condition at all times and prevent spillage onto the highway.
  10. Concrete mixing or similar materials should only be done on the carriageway only NOT on the footway and spot boards should be used to protect the highway.
  11. Remove the building materials from the highway and leave site in a clean and tidy condition when the licence expires.
  12. There are no flammable, explosive, noxious or dangerous material, or material which is likely to putrefy or become a nuisance shall be put on a highway.
  13. Shall not place on the footway any building materials as this is an obstruction and dangerous to pedestrians.
  14. Staining of the carriageway carries a possible fine / or prosecution.
  15. The cost of removing any stains on the carriageway will be recovered from the Licensee.

Renewals:

If you need to extend or renew parking bay suspension please allow a minimum of two working days and must have a valid building materials licence.

Enforcement:

Enforcement officers will be patrolling the streets of the borough on a regular basis to make sure that all building materials are legitimately sited, adhering to the Terms and Conditions set out in the licence and promptly removed following their licence expiry.

Therefore as the licensee, you will be responsible for compliance with all terms and conditions of the license.
If you fail to comply with the terms and conditions of the license you may be given a Fixed Penalty Notice and do not follow any subsequent instructions from enforcement officers to rectify the problem, you may be liable to prosecution under Highways Act 1980.

If you fail to remove your building materials on time or place it on the highway without a valid licence and parking bay suspension, you may be issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice and/or we may remove the building materials and recharge the cost to you.

If you require any further information on the licence procedure please contact the Parking Bay Suspension Team on 020 7371 5678 or the Transport and Technical Services Contact Centre on 020 8753 1081.

Refunds:

Cancellations or changes

  1. Should you need to change the suspension you have booked, you must contact Parking Services in writing at lease 8 days before the new date required
  2. We must be given at lease two working days notice for all cancellations otherwise no refund will be issued.
  3. Please note: there is a fee of £35 for each cancellation or change

Top of page

Page last updated: 21/05/2012