Street works or Section 50 licence
This licence is known as a street works licence or a licence under Section 50 of The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.
The word 'apparatus' is the key difference between this licence and the excavation licence. However, sometimes it can be confusing to determine whether an excavation or a Section 50 licence should be applied for. Please contact the Highways Licensing Team for clarification.
The street works licence does not dispense the licensee from obtaining any other consent, licence or permission which may be required.
The fee for a Section 50 Licence will be £580 for all works up to 10 working days total duration and £960 for all works 11 working days duration and over. Any extension of works will be £140 (per extension).
You must apply for a Section 50 licence to do the following in the carriageway or on the footway:
- to place or to retain apparatus in a street, and therefore to inspect, maintain, adjust, repair, alter, or renew the apparatus, change its position or remove it
The street works licence does not dispense the licensee from obtaining any other consent, licence or permission, which may be required.
Submitting this application does not permit you to carry out works in the public highway. A licence must be issued by a Westminster City Council officer before your works can begin. Please do not start any works before this licence is received.
Upon approval of the application by the City of Westminster, the license will then be dispatched to you, after which you may proceed with the works. You should therefore allow 14 days for us to process your application.
At the end of your online application you will be asked to make payment of your consideration fee:
- duration: all works with a duration up to 10 working days: £580
- duration: all works with a duration in excess of 11 working days: £960
Extension requests
Should an extension be required once your licence has been issued, please contact the officer who issued your licence to discuss.
- fee: £140 (per extension)
In accordance with the New Roads and Streetworks Act 1991 any reinstatement you complete will be liable for inspections and accident claims for a period of two years. Anytime during this period, we can inspect the site and if this site is found to be defective then you will be charged in accordance with The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. If we notice any problems during these inspections, we will notify you. We reserve the right to rectify unresolved defects and will recharge accordingly.
Application refunds
- withdraw an application within 4 working days: full fee refund
- withdraw an application after 4 working days and up until the licence is issued: 50% of fee refund
- withdraw an application once the licence has been issued: no refund