Skip to content 
Road Resurfacing & Reconstruction for Developers
We deliver Section 38-ready road resurfacing and reconstruction with fixed-fee backlog defect resolution. Your scheme exits on schedule, not 18 months late with hidden liabilities.
Specialist resurfacing for developers managing Section 38 adoption and defect backlogs
You’re 18 months past practical completion. The road should’ve been adopted. Instead, you’re fielding defect notices from the council, your capital’s locked up, and you can’t exit the scheme.
Sound familiar? It’s the same story playing out across thousands of developments. Roads built “to spec” that won’t pass final inspection. Defect liability periods that never end. Bonds that never get released.
Get your roads adopted and release your capital
You need roads that actually meet adoptable standards, not just tick boxes on a technical approval that nobody checked properly during construction.
We deliver this across the South West, South Wales, and the Thames Valley. From initial defect surveys through reconstruction and 12-month maintenance to final certificate. Fixed-fee packages that give you cost certainty, not open-ended liability.
We’re NHSS accredited with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. We’ve managed hundreds of Section 38 and Section 278 schemes through final adoption.
What we can deliver for your site...
Why development roads fail adoption, and why it destroys your ROI
The construction shortcuts that create adoption nightmares
You need roads that actually get adopted...
Roads built right so adoption happens on schedule. Fixed-fee certainty, not open-ended liability
Fixed-fee adoption packages:
We quote one price covering all defect resolution, maintenance, inspections, and documentation through final certificate. You know your total cost upfront.
Timeline certainty:
Most backlog schemes signed off within 12-18 months of engaging us, versus the three-plus years you've already spent. We give you a programme and stick to it.
Roads that pass inspection first time:
Twenty-five years managing Section 38 adoptions means we know exactly what every council inspector checks. Built to those standards from day one.
Your capital released faster:
Schemes exit on schedule. Bonds released. Liabilities transferred to the council. You move onto the next development instead of firefighting the last one.
One invoice, one partner:
We manage everything - surveys, design, construction, traffic management, council liaison, resident communication, final documentation. You're not coordinating five contractors.
Maintenance period handled:
The 12-month defect liability period after resurfacing? We manage it. Inspections, reactive repairs, winter maintenance, documentation. Covered in the fixed fee.
Why developers and main contractors choose Highways Plus
You need a partner who understands that adoption isn’t just a technical process – it’s a commercial imperative. Every month your scheme sits unadopted is another month your capital’s tied up earning nothing whilst holding costs compound.
What sets us apart
We've managed hundreds of Section 38 adoptions through final sign-off:
We know every council’s inspection process, every common failure mode, every objection you’ll face. Been there, fixed it, documented it.
Fixed-fee backlog defect resolution eliminates budget risk:
Transparent pricing covering all rectification work, maintenance period, and documentation. Change control only for genuine scope changes, not gaps in our understanding.
We speak both languages - technical and commercial:
We’ll tell you whether reconstruction or resurfacing actually solves your problem. We’ll explain ROI impact, not just structural coefficients.
NHSS accreditation and full ISO suite:
ISO 9001 quality, ISO 14001 environmental, ISO 45001 safety, NHSS highway compliance. Every certification councils check when deciding whether to trust your contractor.
Council relationships built over 25 years:
We deliver schemes councils trust. Technical approvals process smoother, inspections faster, disputes rare. Reputation matters when you need final sign-off.
Adoption Management System included:
Dedicated project management tracking every defect, every inspection, every piece of documentation required for final certificate. You get monthly progress reports, not radio silence.
A clear, structured process that gets schemes adopted
Road adoption needs methodical defect resolution, compliant construction, rigorous quality control. Full documentation at every stage.
What you get...
Most backlog schemes follow phased delivery – defect survey establishing full scope, followed by rectification works, then 12-month maintenance period with regular inspections.
Typical timelines: 12-18 months from survey to final certificate for standard housing developments, 18-24 months for complex schemes with structural issues, 8-12 months for schemes needing only minor defect resolution.
Defect survey and adoption assessment:
We walk your scheme with the council's adoptable standards checklist. Every defect photographed, measured, categorised. You get a written report detailing what needs fixing and estimated cost.
Fixed-fee proposal and programme:
Transparent quotation covering all rectification, traffic management, residents' liaison, maintenance period, final documentation. Programme showing realistic timelines for council liaison and approvals.
Rectification works and quality assurance:
Defects resolved to adoptable standards. Nuclear density testing, core sampling, material certification. Every test witnessed by council inspectors if required, zero disputes at final inspection.
Maintenance period management (12 months minimum):
We handle inspections, reactive repairs, seasonal maintenance, resident complaints. Monthly reporting. Everything documented for final certificate submission.
Final certificate and bond release:
Submission of as-builts, test certificates, maintenance records, photographic evidence. Council issues Part 3/Final Certificate. Your bond gets released. Liability transfers. Done.
80-home development, Bristol - backlog defect resolution
The Challenge:
- Developer three years post-practical completion with roads still unadopted. Section 38 agreement signed five years prior. Council refusing final certificate due to surface defects, drainage issues, and inadequate edge details.
- Original contractor no longer trading. Management company threatening legal action over ongoing maintenance liability. Residents complaining about potholes. Estate agents flagging "unadopted roads" on sales particulars.
- Council's defect schedule listed 47 separate issues across 850 linear metres of estate roads. Previous quotes for rectification ranged from £120,000 to £180,000 with vague scope definitions and undefined timescales.
Our Solution:
- Comprehensive defect survey with council highways officer present, agreeing scope and standards for every item before quoting.
- Fixed-fee proposal at £135,000 covering all defects, 12-month maintenance period, traffic management, and final documentation. Programme showing 16-month timeline to final certificate.
- Phased delivery minimising resident disruption - one street closed at a time, temporary parking arrangements, advance resident communications. Works completed over eight-week period rather than continuous six-month closure.
- Mill and overlay resurfacing for carriageways showing surface distress. Full reconstruction of junction areas with structural failure. Edge restraint upgraded. Drainage gullies relevelled. Road markings and signage installed to adoptable standards.
The Outcome:
- Scheme adopted with final certificate issued 15 months after engagement versus three-plus years already spent
- Total cost £135,000 against previous estimates of £120,000-£180,000, with zero cost overruns or variations
- Section 38 bond (£95,000) released within four weeks of final certificate, capital returned to developer
- Resident complaints ceased once adoption timeline communicated and works visibly progressing
Proven delivery of road resurfacing across diverse sectors
Whether you’re developing housing, commercial, industrial, or mixed-use schemes, you need confidence that your roads will actually pass inspection and get adopted.
Sectors that rely on us:
Residential developers:
- Housing estates requiring Section 38 adoption of internal roads and Section 278 works for site access. Fixed-fee adoption management accelerating scheme exit and capital release.
Main Contractors
- Managing road construction and adoption on behalf of developers. Reliable delivery protecting programme and reputation with client and local authority.
Housing associations:
- ffordable and mixed-tenure schemes balancing quality requirements with budget constraints. Cost-effective solutions meeting adoptable standards without gold-plating.
Commercial and industrial developers:
- Business parks and logistics sites requiring heavy-duty specifications for HGV traffic. Roads built to actual usage requirements, not minimum standards.
Mixed-use developments:
- Complex schemes with public realm, highways alterations, and private drives. Integrated design and adoption management across multiple interfaces.
Infrastructure contractors:
Road improvement schemes, junction upgrades, active travel routes requiring Section 278 coordination and adoptable surfacing. Professional delivery meeting highway authority expectations.
How long does Section 38 adoption typically take?
18-36 months is typical from practical completion for straightforward schemes. Backlog schemes where defects exist can take three-plus years without specialist intervention. Our fixed-fee adoption service typically achieves final certificate within 12-18 months of engagement by managing the entire process methodically.
What's the difference between resurfacing and reconstruction?
Resurfacing replaces the top wearing course (typically 40-60 mm) whilst preserving existing base layers. Used when structural integrity is sound but surface shows wear. Reconstruction removes all layers down to subgrade and rebuilds from foundations up. Required when structural failure, settlement, or inadequate original specification means surface repairs won’t solve underlying problems.
How much does road resurfacing cost per square metre?
Standard overlay resurfacing: £50-£70/m² depending on specification and project size. Heavy-duty commercial spec: £60-£90/m². Full reconstruction: £90-£120/m². Section 38 adoption management typically adds £15,000-£30,000 fixed fee depending on scheme complexity and defect extent.
What's included in your fixed-fee adoption service?
Defect survey and council liaison, all rectification works to adoptable standards, traffic management, residents’ communication, 12-month maintenance period including inspections and reactive repairs, final documentation and as-builts, submission to council for final certificate. Excludes only genuine unforeseen ground conditions not identifiable through reasonable investigation.
Can you fix schemes where the original contractor has gone bust?
Yes. This is common. We survey the scheme against adoptable standards, identify all defects preventing adoption, provide fixed-fee quotation for rectification. We don’t need the original contractor’s cooperation or documentation – we work with what’s there and what the council requires for sign-off.
Will resurfacing work disrupt residents or operations?
We minimise disruption through phased delivery, temporary access arrangements, advance communications, and flexible scheduling. Typical residential street resurfaced in 2-3 days. Larger schemes delivered one phase at a time so most of the estate remains accessible. Night working available for operational sites requiring 24/7 access.
Do you handle Section 278 works as well as Section 38?
Yes. Many developments require both – Section 38 for internal estate roads, Section 278 for works affecting existing highway (new junctions, visibility splays, footway crossings). We manage both simultaneously with integrated traffic management and coordinated adoption processes.
What if the council raises new objections during the process?
Our fixed-fee proposal is based on agreed scope with the council’s highways officer. If genuinely new requirements emerge that weren’t identifiable at survey stage, we discuss options with you before proceeding. Changes to council policy or previously undisclosed requirements are managed through transparent change control, not hidden in vague contingencies.
How quickly can you mobilise?
Defect survey scheduled within one week of request. Survey report and fixed-fee proposal typically delivered within 10 working days. Mobilisation for rectification works: 2-4 weeks depending on traffic management approvals and material lead times. Emergency works for safety-critical defects can mobilise within 48 hours.
Stuck with a scheme that won't get adopted?
We’ll survey your development, identify every defect preventing final certificate, assess timeline to adoption, provide a written report with fixed-fee quotation.
No obligation, no sales pressure – just expert advice from specialists who’ve managed hundreds of Section 38 adoptions through final sign-off across the South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley.
Call or fill out our form and we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
Commercial surfacing and construction
Latest surfacing and civil's advice and news
