Private streets

157 Adoption of private streets.

1

Where any street works have been executed on any land in an urban development area which was then or has since become a private street (or part of a private street), the urban development corporation may serve a notice (an “adoption notice”) on the street works authority requiring the authority to declare the street (or part) to be a highway which for the purposes of the Highways Act 1980 is a highway maintainable at the public expense.

2

Within the period of two months beginning with the date on which the adoption notice was served, the street works authority may appeal against the notice to the Secretary of State.

3

After considering any representations made to him by the corporation and the street works authority, the Secretary of State shall determine an appeal under subsection (2) above by setting aside or confirming the adoption notice (with or without modifications).

4

Where, under subsection (3) above, the Secretary of State confirms the adoption notice—

a

he may at the same time impose conditions (including financial conditions) upon the corporation with which it must comply in order for the notice to take effect; and

b

with effect from such date as the Secretary of State may specify, the street (or part) shall become a highway which for the purposes of the Highways Act 1980 is a highway maintainable at the public expense.

5

Where a street works authority neither complies with the adoption notice, nor appeals under subsection (2) above, the street (or part) shall become, upon the expiry of the period of two months referred to in subsection (2) above, a highway which for the purposes of the Highways Act 1980 is a highway maintainable at the public expense.

6

In this section—

• “highway” has the same meaning as in the Highways Act 1980;

• “private street”, “street works” and “street works authority” have the same meanings as in Part XI of that Act.

7

This section does not extend to Scotland.

157A Connection of private streets to highway.

1

An urban development corporation may serve a notice (a “connection notice”) on the local highway authority requiring the authority to connect a private street in the urban development area to an existing highway (whether or not it is a highway which for the purposes of the Highways Act 1980 is a highway maintainable at the public expense).

2

A connection notice must specify—

a

the private street and the existing highway;

b

the works which appear to the corporation to be necessary to make the connection; and

c

the period within which those works should be carried out.

3

Before serving a connection notice an urban development corporation shall consult the local highway authority about the proposed contents of the notice.

4

Within the period of two months beginning with the date on which the connection notice was served, the local highway authority may appeal against the notice to the Secretary of State.

5

After considering any representations made to him by the corporation and the local highway authority, the Secretary of State shall determine an appeal under subsection (4) above by setting aside or confirming the connection notice (with or without modifications).

6

A connection notice becomes effective—

a

where no appeal is made within the period of two months referred to in subsection (4) above, upon the expiry of that period;

b

where an appeal is made within that period but is withdrawn before it has been determined by the Secretary of State, on the date following the expiry of the period of 21 days beginning with the date on which the Secretary of State is notified of the withdrawal;

c

where an appeal is made and the connection notice is confirmed by a determination under subsection (5) above, on such date as the Secretary of State may specify in the determination.

7

Where a connection notice becomes effective, the local highway authority shall carry out the works specified in the notice within such period as may be so specified and may recover from the corporation the expenses reasonably incurred by them in doing so.

8

If the local highway authority do not carry out the works specified in the notice within such period as may be so specified, the corporation may themselves carry out or complete those works or arrange for another person to do so.

9

In this section—

• “highway” and “local highway authority” have the same meanings as in the Highways Act 1980;

• “private street” has the same meaning as in Part XI of that Act.

10

This section does not extend to Scotland.

157B Traffic regulation orders for private streets.

1

Where—

a

an urban development corporation submits to the Secretary of State that an order under this section should be made in relation to any road in the urban development area which is a private street; and

b

it appears to the Secretary of State that the traffic authority do not intend to make an order under section 1 or, as the case may be, section 6 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (orders concerning traffic regulation) in relation to the road,

the Secretary of State may by order under this section make in relation to the road any such provision as he might have made by order under that section if he had been the traffic authority.

2

The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 applies to an order under this section as it applies to an order made by the Secretary of State under section 1 or, as the case may be, section 6 of that Act in relation to a road for which he is the traffic authority.

3

In this section—

• “private street” has the same meaning as in Part XI of the Highways Act 1980;

• “road” and “traffic authority” have the same meanings as in the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

4

This section does not extend to Scotland.