Skips and Highways Licences
We issue licences to skip companies to deposit skips. We also issue licences for erectiing scaffolding, hoarding and fencing, for excavating the footway or carriageway, for storing building materials, and for depositing portable cabins and containers.
Skip licensing
New regulations
With the introduction of the new Traffic Management Act (TMA) a number of changes in the way in which licences are processed now apply. Please see Highways Licensing in Lambeth - changes from 1 July 2008 for more information.
Who can apply?
Only skip companies can obtain licences and all skip applications must be submitted by the skip company who intends to deposit the skip.
If you are hiring a skip, the skip company will complete the application, take payment for the licence fee, in addition to the fee for the hire of the skip, and deal with the licensing department on your behalf (they may make an additional charge to cover their administration for this).
If you are a skip company and intend to apply for licences on behalf of clients you will need to take note of the following information.
Any skip company wishing to be considered for the invoicing scheme should apply to: Public Protection, Skip Licensing, 2 Herne Hill Road, London SE24 0AU with their request submitted on company headed paper.
Payment
We currently operate a system whereby skip companies can either pay in advance for skip licences via debit / credit card or receive an invoice on a monthly basis detailing the details of all skip licences acquired within any given month.
Invoicing and skip contracts
In order to qualify for invoicing you will need to contact the skip licensing department and request a skip contract.
Your details will be taken and a contract will be sent for you to sign and return.
In addition to the contract details information of traffic sensitive and Transport for London roads and how customers should deal with skips that are to be deposited in parking bays will be enclosed.
Application form
Regardless of whether you decide to pay in advance or are invoiced monthly you will need to fill in an application form and fax it to the licensing department on 020 7926 6120.
Be aware that the notice period for applying for licences is 7 working days for traffic sensitive roads (see below) and 5 working days for non-traffic sensitive roads.
Where a skip is being placed in a parking bay, if the appropriate bay suspensions have not been applied for, this may delay the processing of an application. Please see our bay suspension application form.
In order to find out whether a licence has been granted you will need to contact the licensing department on 020 7926 6105 who will provide you with the licence number.
Traffic sensitive roads
From 1 July 2008 traffic sensitive applications require seven clear working days (currently three clear working days) before a permit can be granted. Skips are not permitted on roads with red routes or double yellow lines or in disabled parking bays.
We have provided a list of all traffic sensitive roads in the borough. This list is currently being reviewed and may be subject to change during the coming weeks.
Enforcement
We expect you, as the skip company, to obtain the correct details and ensure the customer has completed any necessary action they need to take to ensure that the area where the skip is to be deposited has all of the appropriate suspensions etc.
Under the new skip licensing system, the council will take enforcement action against skip companies who deposit skips within the borough without the appropriate licence(s) or suspensions.
Frequently asked questions
Can you recommend a skip company?
We cannot recommend a skip company as their prices and level of service may vary. We only suggest that customers look in the yellow pages to find one.
Highways licensing
New regulations
With the introduction of the new Traffic Management Act (TMA) a number of changes in the way in which licences are processed now apply. Please see Highways Licensing in Lambeth - changes from 1 July 2008 for more information.
The information below applies to the following types of licences:
- The erection of scaffolding, hoarding, fencing, gantry
- Excavation
- Storage of building materials
- Portable cabins and containers
- Temporary crossing (use of existing council's pavement crossing).
Application
Individuals are no longer able to apply for highway licences. This is in order to streamline the application process and make the enforcement of licences more effective.
All applications must now be made by the principal/building contractor. A copy of the company's public liability insurance must be sent with the application.
Be aware that the notice period for applying for licences is 14 working days. Where an item (container, builders materials) is being placed in a parking bay, if the appropriate bay suspensions have not been applied for, this may delay the processing of an application. Please see our bay suspension application form.
To apply for a licence you will need to complete an application form (see below) and pay the appropriate fee for the length of time the licence is required (licences last for a minimum of 3 months at a time - there is no pro-rata fee).
Please complete the relevant form and return it to us at:
Environmental Health
2 Herne Hill Road
London
SE24 0AU
Forms
Please note: Builders’ Materials and Fence Licences must be obtained in addition to an Excavation Licence (in compliance with Highways Act 1980, Part IX, Section 171).
Fees
Fees can be paid by cash, cheque, postal order, and credit / debit card. Cash payments have to be made in person. If you intend to post or fax your application and pay by either debit / credit card you will need to fill in the credit / debit card payment form and send via post, or fax it to our office on 020 7926 6120.
Alternatively you can make credit / debit card payments in person when submitting your application form. All cheques should be payable to LBL Environment Directorate. These can also be sent via the post or submitted in person. The full address is:
Environmental Health
2 Herne Hill Road
London
SE24 0AU
Regulations
Please download the Condition of consent for the erection of scaffolds, hoarding, fencing, platfoms etc. document for a list of regulations relating to highways licensing.
Granting the licence and deposit fees
Upon receipt of your completed application form, the council's Highways Engineer will inspect the site in order to agree to the granting of the relevant licence(s) and decide if a deposit fee is required and the amount of that fee.
Both the licence and deposit fees must be paid before a licence can be granted.
The deposit fee is refundable provided there is no damage to the carriageway or footway during the time of working at the site.
Applicants are therefore advised to take note of the condition(s) of the carriage / footway before the commencement of any work at the site. If there is already damage at the site, you may find it helpful to send copies of photographs of this damage to our office.
Refund of deposit fee
The council's Highways Engineer is empowered to withhold part or all of the deposit fee or request additional payment for damages caused to the carriage / footway during works at the site.
On completion of your work at the site, please write immediately to request the refund of the deposit fee paid on the licence granted, quoting the relevant licence number and location of works. If you have paid by cheque please submit the company BACs details (Bank Name and Address, Sortcode and Account Number) in order for the payment to be made into your bank account.