Source · Select Committees · Transport Committee
2nd Report - Managing the impact of street works
Transport Committee
HC 522
Published 3 July 2025
Recommendations
10
Deferred
Introduce timescales, escalating fines for faulty reinstatements, and lift the two-cycle inspection cap.
Recommendation
The Department should introduce timescales for companies to repair faulty reinstatements, with meaningfully increasing fines if they fail to do so on time. The fine should increase each time a deadline has not been met, and the company responsible should …
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Government Response Summary
The government acknowledges the need for review regarding faulty reinstatements and commits to engaging with HAUC to understand if their position on the two-cycle inspection cap has changed or if new evidence warrants revisiting it, rather than directly committing to introduce timescales, increasing fines, or lifting the cap.
Department for Transport
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13
Deferred
Consult on amending permit scheme guidance to incentivise earlier completion of street works.
Recommendation
The Department for Transport should consult on amending guidance for permit schemes so that fees incentivise completion of works earlier than the period allowed for by a permit. (Recommendation, Paragraph 57)
Government Response Summary
The government states that the current legal framework already permits authorities to offer fee discounts for early completion of works and incentivise efficient practices. It commits to engaging with highway authorities to understand how these existing powers are being used and to identify if further amendments to guidance are required, rather than directly consulting on amendments as recommended.
Department for Transport
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Conclusions (5)
2
Conclusion
Deferred
Leaving equipment or signs in place that imply to the public that street works are still ongoing when they have finished should attract a full overrun charge. (Recommendation, Paragraph 22)
Government Response Summary
The government agrees in principle that road closure signage should indicate the exact location but expresses concerns about potential safety risks. It commits to taking the recommendation away for further consideration with safety experts to balance clarity and safety.
8
Conclusion
Deferred
The current guarantee period of two or three years for reinstatements after works, the latter being for deep excavations, is too short given that reinstatements should last more than ten years if carried out correctly. The Department should increase the standard guarantee period for all excavations up to five years, …
Government Response Summary
The government's response focused on monitoring the use of immediate permits and updating the Co-ordination Code of Practice for clarity, rather than addressing the recommended increase in guarantee periods for excavations or fines for remedial work.
9
Conclusion
Deferred
The process whereby authorities inspect reinstatements for defects after works are complete is not working as well as it should be, with weak incentives for utility companies to fix the defects promptly, or at all, once they have been found during an inspection. (Conclusion, Paragraph 44)
Government Response Summary
The government focused on the existing Street Manager platform's open data for street works and its use by third-party services, rather than addressing the problems with the inspection process for reinstatements or incentives for fixing defects.
11
Conclusion
Deferred
The current dispute resolution process does not seem to be working well. Disagreements relating to the interpretation of street works legislation can end up as legal disputes which are resource intensive for authorities and utility companies alike. (Conclusion, Paragraph 53)
Government Response Summary
The government acknowledged issues with coordinating street works for new housing developments and committed to exploring options with MHCLG to encourage early sharing of utility connection plans, but did not address the recommendation about improving the dispute resolution process for interpreting street works legislation.
12
Conclusion
Deferred
The Department for Transport should consider setting up a Street Works Commissioner in England to help ensure the consistent application and interpretation of legislation, provide an option for independent dispute resolution and monitor performance across the sector. This would provide clarity for the street works industry and help promote good …
Government Response Summary
The government's response focused on lane rental schemes as a tool to reduce disruption from street works and mentioned publishing results of a consultation on devolving approval powers for these schemes, completely avoiding the recommendation for a Street Works Commissioner or alternative dispute resolution body.