Crane operator licence

Guidance on the licence you'll need if you require a crane for your building project.

If you need to use a crane on the public highway you must apply for a licence to do so.

To ensure compliance with licence conditions, we only accept applications from crane operators. Building contractors, businesses and residents cannot apply.

To make your application please submit the following:

  • A copy of your company liability insurance
  • Method statement
  • Traffic and/or pedestrian management plan
  • Confirmation of parking bay suspensions
  • A completed traffic order application if applicable.

Please allow eight weeks for us to process your application if the licence requires a road closure. In all other instances you must allow 10 working days for your application to be processed.

You can only apply for your crane licence online.

How much does it cost?

The cost depends on the size of the crane:

  • Cherry picker under 50 tonnes - £250 per fortnight (14 days)
  • Standard crane over 50 tonnes - £500 per fortnight (14 days)

A £750 damage deposit applies which is refundable on completion after a satisfactory post inspection. This deposit is payable at the time of the application.

Any deposit refunds must be claimed within three months of the end date of a valid licence.

If you require a road closure for your operations, you must apply for a traffic order at a cost of £2,420.

Payment should be made online using a credit or debit card. 

Licence fees are non-refundable unless licence cannot be granted due to conflicting works or unsuitability of the road structure.

Apply online via My Account

The link above will take you to My Account where you need to create an account and then proceed to apply for a highways licence.

We charge a £69.50 admin fee for all licences processed manually.

The same administration fee will also apply for all cancelled licences.

Renewals and enquiries 

Call us on 020 8753 3373 between 10am and 4pm for renewals, enquires and payments. You can make payments over the phone using your debit or credit card.

Conditions of use

The licence holder (the crane operator) is entirely responsible for the crane and must follow the terms and conditions set out below.

Failure to do so may result in enforcement action, including a Fixed Penalty Notice or legal action.

  1. The licence holder, as the crane operator, will be held responsible by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham for the crane operation, traffic management plan and any health and safety issues or damage that may arise as a result of the crane operation.
  2. The licence holder shall ensure that all codes of practice and legal requirements are complied with including the requirement of The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and BS7121 British Standard Code of Practice for the Safe Use of Cranes Part 1 1989 and other relevant parts (3, 4, 5 etc).
  3. The licence holder is responsible for providing a 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, plus any diversion route if applicable.  This plan shall be approved by the Highways Licensing and Enforcement (HL&E) team prior to any operation commencing.
  4. The licence holder is responsible for the suspension of any parking bays and for providing all banksmen, signage, barriers, ramps, temporary traffic lights etc as agreed in the traffic management plan.  These items shall be checked for correct positioning prior to commencing the operation, and shall be removed immediately after the crane operation is completed.
  5. Safe access for pedestrians and vehicles shall be maintained at all times in accordance with the traffic management plan.
  6. The crane operation is only permitted between the times and dates agreed and stated on the licence and a copy of the licence or the licence reference number must be available at the site for inspection.
  7. The licence holder shall comply with all instructions issued by the HL&E team who may inspect the site at any time during the crane operation.  If the operation does not adhere to the agreed method statement and traffic management plan or contravenes the health and safety of the public, the inspector may instruct the licensee/operation supervisor to safely shut down the operation until the problem is resolved.
  8. The licence holder will ensure that the driver and all personnel connected with the operation of the crane are competent and efficient and take all the relevant and necessary safety precautions.
  9. The licence holder will ensure the crane is erected and dismantled strictly in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and to ensure compliance with any requirements imposed by law statute statutory or public authority for the time being in force affecting the safety and operation of such a crane.
  10. The licence holder will ensure the crane and every part thereof is maintained in good working order and checked thoroughly before its erection on site.
  11. The licence holder will not use the crane for loads if at the time the licensee is not satisfied that the crane and every part thereof is safe and in good working order and condition.
  12. The licence holder will not use the crane for any load that is not within the tolerances of the crane.
  13. The licence holder will ensure the crane is placed on the carriageway and NOT on the footway.
  14. The licence holder shall operate the crane so as not to cause any unnecessary nuisance to users of the highway.
  15. The licence holder shall obtain (and comply with the conditions of) all necessary consents in connection with the use and operation of the crane and will comply with all statutory requirements and any regulations of competent authorities, and shall operate the crane in accordance with the best engineering practice.
  16. The licence holder shall obtain and maintain during the term of this licence comprehensive insurance against all general and third party claims (placed with a major insurance company in an amount of not less than £5 Million).
  17. Should the crane interfere with electrical or electronic facilities of any description associated with the highway, the licensee shall make immediate provision for remedying the interference
  18. The licence holder shall immediately inform the HL&E team of any damage to the highway resulting from the crane operation.
  19. In the event of any damage caused to the highway, street furniture or statutory undertaker’s equipment and apparatus in connection with the operation or presence of the crane, the licence holder shall be responsible for the costs reasonable incurred in repairing such damage
  20. The licence holder is personal to the licensee and shall not be transferable to any other persons or parties
  21. The licence holder shall inform the HL&E team of the name and telephone number of 2 persons as contacts for the site. A contact must be available 24 hours a day
  22. The licence holder shall ensure that the outrigger loads do not have an adverse effect on the carriageway and its associated structures.  The design of the outrigger pads should be independently checked by suitably qualified Engineers.
  23. If the crane exceeds 40 Tonnes then the method statement will need to be checked by the Highway Structures Team.  The HL&E team will arrange this check.
  24. If a bus lane closure is required it is the responsibility of the licensee to arrange the closure with TfL London Buses – contact details will be provided by the HL&E team.
  25. If a road closure is required it is the responsibility of the licensee to arrange the closure with the traffic orders team – contact details will be provided by the HL&E team.
  26. A site meeting will be applicable for all operations. For larger operations which affect the strategic road network (SRN), the licensee may be required to attend a joint site meeting with the Licensing Officer, TfL Co ordinators, London Buses Representative and any other Stakeholders as applicable
  27. The licence holder must note that the Highway Licensing & Enforcement Team require at least 10 working days to process applications for a partial road closure and 6 weeks notice to process applications which involve a road closure. Sufficient planning time should be allowed by the applicant.

AS WELL AS CONDITIONS 1 – 27 ABOVE, AN OVER SAIL CRANE LICENCE SHALL ALSO ADHERE TO THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS

  1. The licence holder shall operate the crane so as not to cause any unnecessary nuisance to users of the highway and in particular shall ensure that the crane jib is not left over the highway at the end of each working day.
  2. If the crane is to be used to move materials from the highway into the site compound, a traffic management plan shall be submitted to the HL&E Team at the licence application stage.
  3. At the licence holder application stage, the licensee shall submit a schedule of works to state the dates of any planned lifts from the highway into the site compound.
  4. If any unplanned lifts arise, the licence shall inform the HL&E Team at least 5 days in advance of the lift date.
  5. The licence holder shall ensure the traffic management plan is adhered to for ALL lifts from the highway and no lifts shall commence until the positioning of safety barriers, signage and banksmen are checked by the licensee or site manager for compliance with the traffic management plan.
  6. The licence holder will ensure that the crane will be regularly inspected by a qualified engineer to ensure the crane is being properly maintained in good working order and condition and that all safety and warning devices are functioning properly at all times.

GENERAL CONDITIONS FOR MINOR, STANDARD AND OVERSAIL LICENCES

  1. The licence holder shall ensure the crane is removed on, or before, the expiry of the licence unless an application for a renewal of the licence has been authorised by the HL&E team.
  2. The licence holder shall indemnify the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham and users of the highway from and against any action, claims, loss, costs or expenses resulting from or consequential upon the exercise of the rights granted by this licence or from the erection operation and dismantling of the crane including without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing claim for damage to the highway and personal injury (including death) whether statutory or common law or in equity.
  3. The licence holder 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.
  4. If any of the requirements of this licence are not complied with the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham may stop the crane operation immediately and the licence holder shall be liable for the costs incurred in such measures.
  5. Failure to comply with ALL the terms and conditions listed may result in prosecution.

 LICENCE FEES AND DAMAGE DEPOSIT

  1. Licence fees are NOT refundable unless a site is deemed unsuitable for the location of a crane by the Highways Licensing Team, and no alternative location can be agreed upon.
  2. In order to obtain a refund of any damage deposit paid, the licensee MUST call or write to the Licensing and Enforcement team to state the date the crane was removed. Before issuing a refund, a post inspection will be conducted to check the condition of the public highway.  If damage to the highway is found no refund will be given – please see conditions 18 & 19 for further information.
  3. All refunds are issued by cheque to the licence holder. The cheque is raised by the Finance Department and this process may take up to 30 days.

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