Contractors can use this service to apply and pay for a licence to excavate the highway to place or maintain apparatus.
Before you start
Before submitting your application please ensure that you have read the licence conditions and taken note of the guidance provided below in order to submit a successful application.
The work
We will need to know the proposed start and end date of the work.
We will also need:
- to know if anything else will be affected by the work, for example, traffic signals, a bus lane or a pedestrian crossing
- details of the estimated length, width and depth of the excavation (where applicable) and details of the existing surface
- proof of your permission to connect (new apparatus applications only)
- proof of planning approval (solar or wind farm applications only)
- the name and contact details of any third-parties that work is being carried out on behalf of
You must contact utility companies to see if they have apparatus in the area that will be affected by your work. We do not need to see the results of your plant enquiries.
Location
You will need to provide the location of the proposed work, including a postcode and tell us which part of the public highway it will affect. For example, the verge, footway or road.
You will also need to upload a simple plan or photo with the work being undertaken clearly marked in red on the plan and the location of any portable traffic signals being marked by an X. Diversion routes, if included, should be marked in green.
What happens next?
Once we have received your application the Network Operation Support Team will process your request and issue approval or rejection. If we require further information we will be in touch.
Work must start within one month from the date the licence is issued. If you are unable to start within one month it is at the discretion of Devon County Council whether the licence will be withdrawn (and all monies refunded less an administration fee) or if a new licence will be granted based on the original application with new start and finish dates.
Amendments, cancellations and extensions
You should tell us about amendments to start and end dates using form SWL3. For amended start dates you need to tell us:
- five working days before the new start date if your work is for a duration of three working days or less
- 15 working days before the new start date if your work is for a duration of four or more working days
If the work takes longer to complete than stated in your application then you must obtain an agreement to extend the duration of the work. Failure to do this may result in overrun charges. Please contact us at least 24 hours before your stated end date if you find that a delay is unavoidable.
If an application is cancelled, an administration charge of up to £137 will apply. Cancellation charges will be assessed on a case-by-case and are dependent on the stage of the application at the time of cancellation.
Registering your work
Once your work is complete, it must be legally registered so that the guarantee period can start. We will automatically register the work as completed 10 working days after the work has stopped.
However, if the completed work differs from that stated on the application form, for example, the excavation dimensions have changed, you must tell us about this using form SWL 4. The form must be submitted within 10 working days of work completion.
For more information about registering your work and the guarantee period please read the licence conditions.
Remedial work
If work is needed to correct a defect or make an interim reinstatement permanent, you need to tell us about it using form SWL3.
Work of less than 10 days in duration will require 10 days’ notice. Work over 11 days in duration will require three months’ notice.
If the defect is dangerous, we will require the work to be carried out as an emergency.