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Fixed-fee backlog defect resolution and adoption management
We resolve the legal, administrative and physical defects blocking your Section 38, 278 and 104 sign-offs. Fixed fees, clear timescales, no surprises.
The Complete Highway Adoption Management Service for Developers and Contractors...
Adoption delays are cash-flow killers. They lock up bond capital, stall plot completions, and keep your team tied to a site long after sales complete. Many developers face 6-12 month delays due to defect backlogs, council coordination nightmares, and utilities surprises.
What if road adoption could be predictable?
Highways Plus takes complete ownership of your adoption timeline with our industry leading backlog defect resolution service. We manage design approval, council liaison, construction, inspections, and close-out, so you can focus on sales, plot completions and the next phase.
The adoption headache...
Every month your adoption stays incomplete costs you money.
Stalled adoptions are more than just an administrative nuisance; they are a drain on your balance sheet. With over £1.1 billion in developer contributions currently sitting unspent in local authority accounts, the system is clogged.
If you are facing 6-12 month delays, you are likely dealing with:
Let's fix it.
Our Backlog Defect Resolution service free's up bond capital and takes the entire headache off your hands...
Fixed-fee certainty
No change orders. No surprises. You know the total adoption cost upfront. Budgets are met.
Zero Adoption Delays
Most delays happen post-construction. We resolve defects before they become approval blockers. Result: smooth handover.
Bond Release on Schedule
No more frozen capital. We hit adoption targets, which means your bond is released when promised. Profitability protected.
Accelerated timescales
Our approach typically resolves adoption backlogs 40-60% faster than managing it yourself with multiple contractors.
Reduced Council Liaison Burden
You're not managing council queries. We are. Your team can focus on sales and operations.
Total risk transfer
Once appointed, we take full responsibility for the defect resolution and council liaison. Your team can focus on your next development.
Why developers and contractors choose us...
Most adoption services are consultancies. We are the contractor.
Our competitors often act as middlemen who manage the paperwork but sub-contract the actual work. This adds a layer of cost and a layer of delay.
Highways Plus is different:
Tier-1 compliance with SME agility
We combine ISO-level governance and NHSS accreditation with the responsiveness and flexibility you need.
Proven adoption success
We’ve successfully managed Section 38, Section 278, and Section 104 adoptions across hundreds of schemes throughout the UK.
Councils know and trust our work
We’ve resolved hundreds of schemes across the South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley. We know every council’s standards, approval process, and decision-makers. That familiarity saves months.
Accreditations and credentials
Our ISO and NHSS certifications are your project’s insurance policy. We speak the council’s language, meaning our technical submissions are approved first time, 95% of the time.
We own the fleet
We invest in the latest surfacing and civils equipment. We do not wait for subcontractor availability.
One fee, one team
You do not pay a margin on a margin. You deal with the NHSS-accredited experts who actually fix the road.
Transparent, predictable pricing
Fixed fees mean you can accurately forecast costs, manage budgets, and report to stakeholders with confidence.
Our Complete Highway Adoption & Maintenance Process
We take single accountability for your adoption journey. From initial design review through final handover, we own the timeline, the council liaison, and the outcome.
What you get...
Average 12-week timeline from technical approval to adoption sign-off. Bond released. Plot completions proceed.
Instead of you coordinating between council, multiple contractors, and your team, we handle it. Single accountability removes friction.
Audit and investigation
We conduct a comprehensive site audit, review your adoption paperwork and identify any "hidden" blockers, such as missing as-built drawings.
Fixed-fee proposal
You receive a detailed defect schedule and a fixed-fee quotation within five working days. This converts your open-ended liability into a single, predictable cost.
Resolution works
Our in-house, CSCS-accredited teams execute the remedial works. We handle all permits, traffic management and council inspections.
Certification and bond release
We coordinate final inspections and secure the formal adoption certificate. This is the trigger that cancels your bond and releases your capital.
Backlog Defect Resolution CASE STUDY
Residential development, Bristol
The Challenge:
- Original adoption timeline: 18 months.
- Multiple backlog defects.
- Council coordination bogged down in change orders.
- Bond capital locked up.
- Plot completions stalling.
Our Solution:
- We audited all defects against the Section 38 specification.
- Identified £400K in remediation work (resurfacing, drainage, defect rectification).
- Quoted fixed-fee remediation package upfront.
The Outcome:
- Adoption achieved in 12 weeks (12-week acceleration).
- £2.1M bond released immediately.
- Zero disputes on final sign-off.
- Plot completions proceeded on schedule.
- Developer margin protected.
Proven delivery across public, private, and specialist infrastructure projects
Whether you’re building residential estates, commercial developments, or public infrastructure across the South West, South Wales, or Thames Valley, we accelerate your route to adoption.
Sectors that rely on us:
Residential Developers
Mixed-tenure housing. Build-to-rent. Estate roads with drainage and street furniture. We’ve adopted 80+ residential schemes.
- Accelerate bond release and free up working capital
- De-risk your exit strategy with fully adopted infrastructure
- Focus your team on selling homes, not chasing contractors
- Clear programme certainty with fixed timescales
Main Contractors
When the main contractor needs a specialist adoption partner, they call us. We integrate seamlessly into your team.
- Close out your defects liability period cleanly
- Protect your reputation with clients and councils
- Remove the administrative burden of adoption management
- Fixed cost that you can pass through accurately
Local Authorities
Councils trust our NHSS accreditation and technical expertise for complex adoption projects.
- Professional interface that streamlines your adoption process
- Confident that works meet current specifications and standards
- Single contractor accountable for full remediation
- Reduced officer time managing developer schemes
Housing Associations
Affordable housing requires expert navigation of council adoption processes and budget control. We deliver fixed-fee certainty.
- Control total infrastructure costs with transparent, fixed pricing
- Meet accessibility and regulatory standards without budget surprises
- Free up limited resources to focus on housing delivery
- Accelerate scheme completion and move to your next project
Mixed-Use & Commercial
Retail parks, business centres, and mixed-use schemes have unique adoption challenges. We’ve handled them all.
- Coordinate multiple adoption agreements across highways, sewers, and drainage
- Maintain operational uptime whilst remediation works progress
- Protect tenant relationships with minimal disruption
- Accelerate ROI by achieving adoption and releasing bond capital
Your Backlog Defect Resolution questions, answered...
Why is the council refusing to inspect my Section 38 road?
It is often due to incomplete Section 104 sewer agreements. Many councils, including Wiltshire and Somerset, will not inspect road surfaces until the water company issues a letter of intent. We resolve both highway and sewer defects concurrently to remove this blocker.
How quickly can you mobilise?
Because we do not rely on external subcontractors for critical path items, we can typically mobilise within two weeks of instruction.
Do you handle Section 104 (sewer adoption) as well?
Yes. We regularly manage combined highway and sewer adoption schemes, co-ordinating with both local authorities and water companies.
What if the council finds additional defects during final inspection?
That’s covered. Our fixed fee includes addressing any observations raised during the adoption process. We don’t walk away until you’ve got your adoption certificate.
Do you handle Section 278 agreements?
Yes. We are experts in Section 278 works (changes to existing highways). We understand the specific fee structures and bond requirements for authorities across the South West and Thames Valley, including the complex “Short Form” vs “Full Form” agreements in Oxfordshire.
Can you take over from another contractor who's walked away?
Absolutely. We’ve rescued dozens of stalled schemes where the original contractor has ceased trading or refuses to complete remedial work.
What if we don't know exactly what needs fixing?
That is normal. Our initial assessment audits every defect preventing adoption-legal, administrative and physical. You will have complete clarity on the scope and cost before you commit to the work.
Do you work outside your usual service area for significant schemes?
Yes. We’ve delivered backlog resolution schemes across England and Wales.
What is the difference between you and a management agency?
Agencies manage paperwork and hire subcontractors. Highways Plus manages the paperwork and performs the civil engineering with our own in-house workforce and fleet. This removes the “middleman” delay and ensures you have a single point of accountability.
Get your project moving again...
Book a Free, No-Obligation Backlog Defect Resolution Assessment
Tell us about your scheme and we will provide a no-obligation assessment within five working days.
Whether you are at the planning stage or dealing with a backlog of defects, we will give you straightforward answers and a clear path to bond release.
Call or fill out our form and we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
Our Road Adoption & Highways Maintenance Services
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