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Section 171 Licence

Contractors wishing to deposit materials, occupy or make a temporary excavation in the highway require a Section 171 licence. ‘Highway’ land is specified as any carriageway, footway or verge adopted by Cheshire East Highways. You must check the road is an adopted road before making your application.

We need a minimum of 7 working days notice for a section 171 licence, however if an additional application, for example traffic management is required, we may need more than 7 days notice.

For applicants who wish to commence works earlier than the required notice period of 7 working days we now offer fast track service. This is on the basis that no other additional applications are required and coordination pending. Two clear working days’ notice will be required for Fast Track applications.

If the works being carried out are part of the S38 / S278 agreement, please email permitapplications@cheshireeasthighways.org to ensure the correct application is completed.

  • Storage of materials / occupation of the highway: £170 per week
  • Fast Track - storage of materials / occupation of the highway: £230 
  • Excavating in the highway: £370 per application
  • Fast Track- Excavating in the highway: £420 per application

  • Unlicenced: £10

  • If your application is cancelled or refused, we will charge you £110

If your application is accepted, you will be granted a licence which will be issued via email.

We might ask you to meet specific conditions relating to your works and the location you are working within. In some circumstances, we may ask for a site visit to discuss your works.

If you require any traffic management, for example multiphase traffic signals, lane closure or road closure, that application must be submitted with your Section 171 application. There may be delays in processing your licence if you have not applied for the correct traffic management applications.

You must not start works on the highway before you receive your approval. 

Your Section 171 application will be approved on the basis that all of the conditions will be adhered to as per your licence. You must comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and codes of practice including Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice and Section 171 of New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

Failure to comply with any of the above may result in your licence being taken away.

Once works are complete, all signage must be removed and any rubbish must be cleared from the highway. If we have to dispose of any apparatus/rubbish left on site, a cost will be charged to you.  

Contact Highways

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If you consider a highways issue to be a danger to life:

Call the Highways Customer Services Team on 0300 123 5025

Highways
Floor 6
Delamere House
Delamere Street Crewe
Cheshire
CW1 2LL

Page last reviewed: 05 March 2025