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NRSWA Compliance, Consultancy and Management
FPNs just doubled. Permit refusals cost 4-10 weeks per site. Lane rental hits £2,500/day. You need compliance right first time, not expensive lessons.
Street works compliance is getting harder and more expensive
January 2026 brought the biggest regulatory shift in a decade. Fixed Penalty Notices doubled overnight. Working without a permit now costs £1,000. Permit breaches hit £240.
Your utility programme or development scheme can’t afford the delays, the fines, or the council relationship damage that comes from getting this wrong.
Get expert compliance management that keeps your works moving
We manage the entire NRSWA process, from permit applications and Chapter 8 traffic management through to reinstatement quality and Street Manager close-out. First-time approvals. Zero compliance failures. Fixed costs.
We deliver this throughout the South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley, backed by NHSS accreditation and 25+ years of council relationships that accelerate approvals and resolve disputes fast.
What we can deliver for your site...
Why street works fail compliance, and what it's costing you
The technical failures that trigger penalties and delays
- Incomplete permit applications missing traffic management plans or utility avoidance evidence
- Poor Chapter 8 compliance (inadequate guarding, missing pedestrian provisions, incorrect signage)
- SWQR card expiry or wrong qualification units for the task
- Reinstatement defects (poor compaction, inadequate materials, insufficient testing)
- Late start/stop notices triggering automatic FPNs
- Missing or inadequate communication plans for major works
- Documentation gaps preventing Street Manager close-out
The real-world impact...
There's a better way...
Compliance that protects budgets, timelines, and relationships
Specialist expertise, not generic contractors
We’ve navigated NRSWA for 25+ years. We know council expectations. We understand where applications fail. We deliver first-time approvals.
>95% first-time permit approval:
Pre-submission authority liaison clarifying requirements. Complete applications. Traffic management plans that councils accept. Zero 4-10 week refusal delays.
Council relationship leverage:
25+ years of local authority partnerships. Direct access to highway officers. Standards clarification. Dispute resolution. Approval acceleration averaging 7-14 days.
Zero traffic management failures:
Chapter 8-compliant design. Pre-deployment formal audit. Daily inspection discipline. Photographic documentation. Site supervisor continuously available.
Reinstatement quality that lasts:
SROH specifications. Material pre-certification. Nuclear density testing every 50m. <5% defect rate. 10+ year life, not 2-5 year failures.
Fixed-fee cost certainty:
Know costs upfront. Budget accurately. No surprise overruns. Typical utilities project: £2,000-£3,000 per permit. Developer adoption: £15,000-£30,000 fixed fee.
Integrated S38/S278/S104 delivery:
Single point of accountability. No interface risk between drainage, surfacing, and adoption. 12-18 month typical completion versus 24-48 unmanaged.
Why utilities and developers choose Highways Plus
Regulatory complexity. Financial penalties. Council resource constraints. Programme pressures.
You need more than paperwork management. You need expertise that delivers first-time approvals and keeps works moving.
What sets us apart
Council relationships that accelerate approvals:
25+ years of South West, Wales, and Thames Valley authority partnerships. Direct highway officer access. Standards pre-clarification. 7-14 day typical acceleration versus cold applications.
NHSS + ISO triple accreditation:
NHSS 12D, ISO 9001/14001/45001. Procurement-ready credentials councils trust. Faster technical approval. Reduced scrutiny versus unaccredited applicants.
Fixed-fee adoption management:
£15k-£30k packages for Section 38/278 schemes. Capital certainty versus hourly rates. 12-18 month typical completion. 6-30 month acceleration documented.
Integrated compliance + delivery:
We don’t just design traffic management, we deploy it. We don’t just specify reinstatement, we witness testing. Single accountability, zero subcontractor blame games.
Proven FPN avoidance:
<2% non-compliance incident rate versus 30% industry baseline. Daily TM audits. Proactive Street Manager administration. FPN exposure minimised by design, not reaction.
Specialist Section 38/278/104 expertise:
Root-cause defect resolution, not repeating failed repairs. Commuted sum optimization (10-25% reduction achievable). Documentation that survives authority audits.
A clear, structured process that keeps your works compliant
Minimal council friction. Proactive quality management. Fixed timelines you can programme around.
What you get...
Phased delivery maintaining operational continuity. Clear authority liaison protocols. Real-time compliance reporting.
Timelines: Permit approval 10 working days (Standard), Chapter 8 deployment 2-3 days, Section 38 adoption 12-18 months fixed-fee managed (versus 24-48 typical).
Pre-application authority engagement:
Council liaison clarifying requirements before formal submission. Utility clash identification. Traffic management approach agreement. First-time approval strategy documented.
Permit application and Chapter 8 design:
Complete documentation. SWQR verification. Traffic management plans pre-approved. Street Manager submission within regulatory timescales.
Deployment and daily compliance auditing:
Traffic management setup inspected before opening. Daily TM audit discipline. Photographic evidence. Supervisor continuously on-site or accessible within 30 minutes.
Reinstatement quality control:
Material pre-certification. Compaction monitoring during works. Nuclear density testing every 50m minimum. Core sampling. Witnessed by council where required.
Street Manager close-out and documentation:
Timely completion notices. As-built compilation. Test certificates archived. Section 38/278 handover packages prepared. Authority sign-off secured.
NRSWA complianceNRSWA COMPLIANCE CASE STUDY
Utility fibre installation programme, South Wales (40-site rolling works)
The Challenge:
Regional fibre rollout across 40 streets over 12 months. Previous contractor achieved 65% first-time permit approval, averaging 6-week delays per refusal. Lane rental exposure £1,500/day. Programme 8 weeks behind. Client facing £240k additional lane rental costs.
Three FPNs issued in first quarter (£360 pre-2026 rates). Council relationship deteriorating. Reinstatement defects requiring repeat works on 35% of completed sites.
Our Solution:
Took over permit management and on-site compliance from Month 4. Pre-submission council liaison protocol established—weekly planning meetings with highway officers identifying clashes before formal applications.
Chapter 8 traffic management redesigned to authority standards. Daily TM audit regime implemented with photographic evidence submitted weekly. SWQR-qualified supervisor assigned to each site with 30-minute response commitment.
Reinstatement specification upgraded to SROH standard with witnessed nuclear density testing. Material pre-certification from approved suppliers only.
The Outcome:
- 97% first-time permit approval rate (Months 4-12) versus 65% baseline
- Zero FPNs issued after takeover (£3,600+ annual saving at 2026 rates)
- Programme back on track by Month 7—completed 2 weeks early overall
- Reinstatement defect rate <5% (versus 35% baseline)—zero repeat works required
- £180k lane rental cost avoidance through permit acceleration (7-day average reduction)
- Council relationship recovered—client now preferred utility partner for future works
Proven delivery across sectors
Different projects, different compliance challenges. Same need for expertise that keeps works moving without penalties or delays.
Sectors that rely on us:
Utilities (water, gas, electricity, telecoms):
Permit management for rolling programmes. SWQR workforce assurance. Reinstatement quality control. Lane rental cost minimisation. FPN avoidance strategies.
Developers and housing associations:
Section 38/278 adoption management. Fixed-fee defect resolution. Commuted sum optimization. Bond release acceleration. 12-18 month typical completion.
Main contractors and civils firms:
Supply chain compliance assurance. Chapter 8 traffic management design and deployment. Authority liaison relieving programme risk. NHSS-backed quality delivery.
Local authorities:
Section 38 technical vetting support. Adoption backlog clearance. Compliance training and competence frameworks. Street Manager administration for in-house teams.
Infrastructure projects:
Major works coordination (TTRO applications). Multi-authority programme management. Stakeholder communication strategies. Emergency works rapid response (24-hour permit turnaround).
Your NRSWA complianceNRSWA compliance questions, answered...
How do you achieve >95% first-time permit approval when industry average is 70-80%?
Pre-submission council liaison. We engage highway officers 4-6 weeks before formal applications, clarifying requirements and identifying clashes. Applications go in complete—traffic management plans, utility searches, SWQR verification, communication protocols. Councils approve because there’s nothing missing.
What's included in your fixed-fee adoption management service?
Initial defect survey with council liaison. Root-cause remediation strategy (not just repeating failed repairs). All physical rectification works. Authority re-inspections and liaison. Commuted sum negotiation. Final vesting certificate support. Typical timeline: 12-18 months from instruction to adoption certificate.
Can you mobilise for emergency works requiring immediate permits?
Yes. Emergency protocol: 2-hour permit application from your call. SWQR-qualified crew availability within 24 hours. Chapter 8 traffic management deployed same-day where safety-critical. We maintain standby capacity for utilities and critical infrastructure clients.
How do you prevent FPNs and compliance failures?
Design-stage prevention, not reactive fixes. Chapter 8 plans pre-approved by councils. Pre-deployment TM audit before site opens. Daily inspection discipline with photographic evidence. Supervisor continuously on-site. Proactive Street Manager administration. <2% non-compliance rate documented versus 30% industry baseline.
What's your typical timeline for Section 38 road adoption?
12-18 months fixed-fee managed, from initial defect survey through to final certificate. Unmanaged schemes typically take 24-48 months. Acceleration comes from upfront council engagement clarifying standards, root-cause defect resolution (not repeating repairs), and proactive authority liaison during maintenance periods.
Do you provide SWQR-qualified operatives or just consultancy?
Both. We verify and schedule SWQR-qualified crews for your works (outsourced workforce model), or we provide compliance consultancy if you’re using in-house teams. Either way, we manage card verification, unit matrix matching, and continuous availability assurance.
How do you handle multiple permit scheme authorities with different requirements?
Regional expertise. We operate across South West, South Wales, Thames Valley authorities—we know their specific requirements, permit fees (£400-£2,500 variance), and approval timescales. Multi-authority programmes get dedicated coordination protocols ensuring consistent compliance across jurisdictions.
What documentation do you provide for adoption sign-off?
Complete as-built packages: marked-up drawings, material test certificates, compaction records, photographic evidence, CCTV drainage surveys, Street Manager records. Compiled in formats councils accept. Section 38/278 schemes get dedicated handover documentation meeting authority archiving standards.
How quickly can you start, and what's your capacity?
Standard projects: 7-10 working days from instruction. Emergency works: 24-hour permit and deployment capability. Current capacity: 15-20 concurrent utility projects, 5-8 developer adoption schemes. Large programmes (40+ sites) get dedicated project management.
Facing permit refusals, FPN exposure, or stalled adoption?
Book a Free, no-obligation NRSWA compliance assessment
We’ll review your current approach, identify compliance gaps, assess FPN risk, and provide a written strategy with fixed-fee options.
No obligation. No pressure. Just expert advice from specialists who’ve navigated NRSWA for 25+ years and maintained >95% first-time approval rates.
Call or fill out our form and we'll be in touch within 24 hours.
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