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Highways, private streets and new developments

Highways, private streets and new developments

Highway maintenance, trunk roads, adoption process for new roads in the area.

Adopted Roads

Northumberland County Council, Section 36(6) of the Highways Act 1980 

List of Highways Maintainable at Public Expense

Unadopted roads

These are usually:

  • private streets
  • owned by one or more individuals
  • unpaved
  • without kerbs
  • footways
  • surface water sewers
  • gullies

The highway authority does not usually maintain anything in this category. Generally, they're maintained by the owners and/or those with public right of access to the street.

Private streets sometimes have a sign which says 'private' or 'unadopted' so they're identifiable. This alone is not normally proof of status.

Trunk roads

Northumberland County Council does not maintain trunk roads in Northumberland (A1, A19 and A6). They are the responsibility of the National Highways and their agents.

Any questions about trunk roads should be directed to National Highways:

Email: info@nationalhighways.co.uk

Telephone: 0300 123 5000

New developments

New roads constructed according to the council's guidelines usually become adopted through an agreement between the developer and the council under Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980. However, it's not compulsory to enter into an agreement.

If an agreement exists and the developer goes into receivership, the council can complete and adopt the existing road system.

Normally, roads remain with the developer for a period of one year after completion (the 'maintenance period') and, if no major defects are found after that, formal adoption takes place.

Contact

Email: highwaysplanning@northumberland.gov.uk