The Highways Act 1980 is an Act

Acts of Parliament in the United Kingdom

An Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom is a type of legislation called primary legislation. These Acts are passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster, or by the Scottish Parliament at Edinburgh....

 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom

Parliament of the United Kingdom

The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...

 dealing with the management and operation of the road network in England and Wales. It consolidated with amendments several earlier pieces of legislation. Many amendments relate only to changes of highway authority

Highway Authority

A highway authority is a name given to a body responsible for the administration of public roads.-India:The National Highways Authority of India is the national authority for the management of a network of over 60,000 km of National Highways in India...

, to include new unitary councils and National Parks. By virtue of the Local Government (Wales) Act 1994

Local Government (Wales) Act 1994

The Local Government Act 1994 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which created the current local government structure in Wales of 22 unitary authority areas, referred to as principal areas in the Act, and abolished the previous two-tier structure of counties and districts...

 and the Environment Act 1995

Environment Act 1995

The Environment Act 1995 is a United Kingdom Act of Parliament which created a number of new agencies and set new standards for environmental management...

, most references to local authority are taken to also include Welsh councils and national park authorities. By virtue of the National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999 most references to 'the Minister' are taken to include the National Assembly for Wales

National Assembly for Wales

The National Assembly for Wales is a devolved assembly with power to make legislation in Wales. The Assembly comprises 60 members, who are known as Assembly Members, or AMs...

. The Act is split into 14 parts covering 345 sections, it also includes 25 schedules.

Part 1: Highway Authorities & Agreements Between Authorities

Part 1 includes sections 1 to 9 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Highway Authorities
• Agreements between authorities

Part 2: Trunk Roads, Classified Roads, Metropolitan Roads, Special Roads

Part 2 includes sections 10 to 23 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Trunk roads
• Classified roads
• Metropolitan roads
• Special Roads

Part 3: Creation of Highways

Part 3 includes sections 24 to 35 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Creation of new highways
• Creation of new footpaths and bridleways
• Dedication of highways

Part 4: Maintenance of Highways

Part 4 includes sections 36 to 61 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Highways maintainable at public expense & their maintenance
• Maintenance of privately maintainable highways
• Powers covering enforcement of liabilities and recovery of costs
• Defence in respect of specific matters in legal action against a highway authority for damages for non-repair of highway

Part 5: Improvement of Highways

Part 5 includes sections 62 to 105 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Various powers to improve highways including - but not limited to:
  • Widening of highways
  • Installation of Guard rails
  • Construction, reconstruction and improvement of bridges and the like

Part 6: Navigable Waters & Watercourses

Part 6 includes sections 106 to 111 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Construction of bridges over and tunnels under navigable waters
• Diversions of watercourses

Part 7: Provision of Special Facilities

Part 7 includes sections 112 to 115 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Provision of picnic sites
• Provision of public conveniences
• Provision of areas for parking heavy goods vehicles

Part 8: Stopping up of Highways

Part 8 includes sections 116 to 129 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Stopping up and diversion of highways
• Stopping up means of access to highways

Part 9: Lawful and Unlawful Interference with Highways

Part 9 includes sections 130 to 185 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Protection of public rights
• Damage to highways
• Obstruction of highways
• Danger or annoyance to highway users
• Precautions to be taken in doing certain works
• Request the highway authority to construct a vehicle crossing over a footway or verge in the highway

Part 10: New Streets

Part 10 includes sections 186 to 202 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• New street byelaws
• Requirements and prohibitions as to new streets
• Enforcement of byelaws

Part 11: Making up of Private Streets

Part 11 includes sections 203 to 237 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• The private street works code
• The advance payments code
• General powers relating to private streets

Part 12: Acquisition, Vesting and Transfer of Land

Part 12 includes sections 238 to 271 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Acquisition of land for highway works
• Compensation relating to compulsory acquisition of land
• Vesting of land
• Transfer of property and liability when the status of a highway changes

Part 13: Financial Provisions

Part 13 includes sections 272 to 281 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Various rules on financial transactions relating to highways

Part 14: Miscellaneous and Supplementary Powers

Part 14 includes sections 282 to 345 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:

• Various supplementary powers including - but not limited to:

Inquiries

Disputes over compensation

Prosecutions and appeals

Regulations, schemes and orders

Section 38 Agreement

Under Section 38 of the Act, the highway authority

Highway Authority

A highway authority is a name given to a body responsible for the administration of public roads.-India:The National Highways Authority of India is the national authority for the management of a network of over 60,000 km of National Highways in India...

 may enter into an agreement with a developer of land on either side or both sides of a private street. The Authority can agree to adopt the street as a highway maintainable at public expense when all the street works have been carried out to their satisfaction, and the developer agrees to carry them out within a stated time. It is customary for the developer to enter into a bond

Surety bond

A surety bond is a promise to pay one party a certain amount if a second party fails to meet some obligation, such as fulfilling the terms of a contract...

 for his performance with a bank or building society

Building society

A building society is a financial institution owned by its members as a mutual organization. Building societies offer banking and related financial services, especially mortgage lending. These institutions are found in the United Kingdom and several other countries.The term "building society"...

.

Section 38 Agreements have been criticised because Highways Authorities are usually consultees during the planning process, but are essentially given a second bite of the cherry when a developer wishes to get his road adopted. Often Highways Authorities will request additional requirements to highways in order for them to be adopted in addition to those originally asked for during the planning consultation process.

Section 278 Agreement

Facility to allow private developers to either pay for or carry out off-site works to public highways - eg. addition of speed bumps.