Temporary road closures and restrictions licence

Before you apply to close a road

Before you apply for a road closure licence, you will need a traffic management plan prepared by a competent traffic management engineer.

If you want to close a road for an event, you must as a first step register the event with our Event Safety Advisory Group (ESAG). The ESAG can give advice on the process.

If you are planning to occupy the road, you must also apply for a streetworks permit (utilities), an S50 streetworks licence (companies other than utilities working on apparatus) or an S171 licence (other excavations  or occupying the highway). There may be delays in processing your road closure application if you have not applied for the relevant permit or licence.

When to apply

For planned closures of more than 5 days (TTRO), you must apply at least 12 weeks before your planned start date.

For most planned closures of 5 days or less (TTRN), you must apply at least 8 weeks before your planned start date.

For urgent/emergency work you must apply by the next working day.

How to apply for a temporary road closure or restriction

For permission to close a road for events, see road closures for events.

For permission to close a road for roadworks, use the below form. The form will take 10 minutes to complete.

Apply to temporarily close a road

Traffic management plan

When you apply, you must provide a traffic management plan at a scale of 1:1,250 (or greater) designed by your appointed traffic management company. The plan must include:

• the location and length of the restriction, including road names
• the location and length of any diversion route, including road names
• a signing schedule giving the detail and position of any temporary traffic signs
• details of proposed access for pedestrians and cyclists (or an explanation on the road closure form as to why no access is possible)
• a signage schedule

We may ask for proof of public liability insurance indemnifying us for a minimum of £5 million. 

Guidance on filling in the temporary road closure licence form

For the emergency contact details question the number you provide will be publicised on the notice or order and will be seen by the public.

For the additional Information question, during winter season (October-April) please note if gritter access can be maintained. If you are unable to do so, we may ask you to replan for after the winter season.

Temporary road closure fees and charges

Fees for works-related road closures and restrictions 

Temporary notice = (21 days) £1,450 plus £400 per restriction.

Temporary order - no rebate for subsequently cancelled applications (includes advertising and admin fee) = £2,400 plus £400 per restriction.

Temporary notice – 5 days (no rebate for subsequently cancelled applications) = £1,450 plus £400 per restriction.

Charge for rejected / cancelled unprocessed applications = £110. 

All fees and charges must be paid online when submitting the application form.

After you apply, an automated email will be sent to the email address given online with your reference number and confirmation of payment. 

We will review your application to make sure your plans are suitable for the site. We will contact you if any changes are needed.

All approvals will be issued via a permit/ licence.

If your application has not been approved and you need to change any dates or make amendments to your submitted application, email trafficmanagement@cheshireeasthighways.org. We do not require a further application to be submitted online.

Your responsibilities before and during the road closure

When working on a closed road,you must keep workers and the public safe and minimise inconvenience.

Advance warning signs

For planned works, you must put up advance warning signs at each end of the closure 14 days before the work is due to start.

Telling businesses and residents

Where the closure or restriction affects businesses and residents or other frontage owners, you must notify them at least 14 days in advance.

Health and safety

You must comply with all relevant health and safety legislation and codes of practice including the Department for Transport’s Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice. You can be fined or prosecuted if you don’t comply.

Signage during the road closure 

You must make sure all signs you erect are properly maintained. You must then remove them when you finish the work.

Clearing the site

You must clear the site and take away any rubbish when you have finished. If we have to take rubbish away, we will charge you for the cost of doing so. 

Failure to comply with any of these listed responsibilities, will result in your licence/permit being taken away.

Road closure licence legislation

Temporary road closures are covered by part 9 of the Highways Act 1980