Licence - building materials

If you wish to place building materials on any part of the highway a licence is required from this Authority (section 171 of Highways Act 1980). A licence is not normally necessary if materials are placed on private land. All materials must be placed on private land whenever possible.

In order to apply for a building materials licence, download and complete the application form. A licence can be valid for any period between 1 day and 1 month. For longer periods, additional applications must be made prior to the expiry of the current licence.

Permission is granted with the issuing of a licence number. The application form will be returned to you with the number, or, it can be obtained by telephone, normally within 2 working days of receipt of the application.

If it is not possible to avoid using the public highway, materials should be placed in the carriageway, rather than the footway. If permission is granted to place materials on a footway, carriageway or grass verge, the council may recover any reasonable expenses to cover any damage which may be caused. A single licence allows for the storage of materials, not exceeding 5 metres in length, 2 metres in width and 1.0 metre in height. Please consult this office if larger quantities are involved. Materials placed in, or partly on, the carriageway require at least five traffic cones on the approach side to guide traffic past the storage area.

During the hours of darkness, in poor daytime visibility and bad weather, road danger lamps (flashing amber) must be placed to indicate the area of the site. If sited in the carriageway, a lamp should be placed between each cone. More information about the regulations for skips on the highway. If this authority's contractors are called out to lamp the site or make it safe, a charge will follow. Building materials placed on the highway shall not obstruct or interfere with the drainage of the street or with any apparatus of the public utility companies.

Contact details

E-mail: customer.services@bristol.gov.uk

Tel: 0117 922 3838 (08:30hrs - 17:30hrs)
Tel: 0117 922 2050 (out of office hours)
Fax: 0117 922 2011

Highways Asset Management Group
Planning, Transport and Substainable Development
St Georges Road
Bristol BS1 5UY

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