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Highways Plus commercial surfacing services and civil engineering solutions
Serving the South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley
From releasing trapped developer bonds through our fixed-fee Adoption Management System to keeping council networks safe and moving, we’re the specialist partner behind infrastructure projects where the stakes are high and the detail matters.
NHSS-accredited. ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certified. Based in Bristol; delivering across the region.
Our services span the complete project lifecycle...
Enabling works and site preparation at the start. Road construction and commercial surfacing through the middle. Civil engineering and drainage to make it all work. Planned maintenance to keep it working for decades after.
We also offer something most regional contractors don’t: a specialist Adoption Management System that resolves backlog defects and secures Section 38, 278, and 104 sign-off for stalled developments. It’s fixed-fee, systematic, and designed to release bond capital faster.
Commercial surfacing and construction
Surfaces are only commercially useful if they stay in the ground. We engineer asphalt, concrete, and block paving to match the actual load they’ll carry, whether that’s HGVs turning in a distribution yard or customers arriving at a retail park.
Specification matters. Installation matters more. We handle both, from the warm-mix asphalt that hits your sustainability targets to the polymer-modified binders that take an industrial beating for 15 to 20 years.
Asphalt / Tarmac Surfacing
New tarmac surfacing and repairs, delivered to the standards that local authorities and clients expect.
Road Resurfacing & Reconstruction
Renew, repair and strengthen road surfaces to adoption-ready standards, extending infrastructure life and accelerating sign-off.
Sustainable Road Construction
Lower-carbon surfacing solutions that help you meet environmental commitments without sacrificing durability or quality.
Car Park Surfacing
Surfaces built for busy commercial environments that resist wear and maintain their appearance under pressure.
Commercial Driveways
Make the right impression with hardwearing entrances designed for commercial traffic and lasting kerb appeal.
Heavy-Duty Industrial Surfacing
Surfaces that take the punishment of HGVs and heavy plant without breaking down under pressure.
Footpaths and paving
Pedestrian surfaces that prioritise safety and accessibility while giving your site a professional finish.
Rigid Pavements & Concrete Surfacing
Design, construction and repairs of high-strength concrete surfacing for areas requiring superior structural integrity.
Commercial Surfacing Solutions
Durable, high-performance surfacing solutions designed to withstand the demands of modern commerce and industry.
Highway adoption and agreements
Your scheme isn’t finished when the last house sells; it’s finished when the Local Authority takes it on and your bond is released. For too many developers, that moment stretches on for years.
We specialise in navigating the complex technical and regulatory landscape that sits between private development and public ownership. From Section 38 new road adoption to Section 104 sewer adoption, we resolve the defects, manage the council liaison, and secure the sign-offs that free up your capital.
It’s the work most contractors either won’t touch or don’t understand properly. We’ve built our adoption practice around it.
Backlog Defect Resolution
Get stalled developments moving again. Our fixed-fee service resolves adoption blockers and accelerates sign-off.
Section 38 Road Adoption (S38)
Take the complexity out of road adoption. We handle technical delivery and authority liaison throughout.
Section 104 Agreement (S104)
Drainage design, installation, and compliance to meet the technical and regulatory requirements for Section 104 sewer adoption.
Section 278 Highway Works (S278)
Highway works that satisfy planning conditions and keep your development programme moving forward on schedule.
Commuted Sums Negotiation
Specialist negotiation and resolution service focused on securing favourable commuted sum agreements.
NRSWA Compliance
Professional consultancy and site management to ensure all street works are NRSWA-compliant.
Civil engineering and infrastructure
The work most people never see is what keeps infrastructure standing. Drainage that actually drains. Ducting that’s there when the fibre team arrives. Sub-bases that don’t sink six months later.
Our civil engineering team handles everything below the surface and beyond the road edge, so the visible elements of your project have something solid to sit on. From SuDS compliance to sports court construction, the remit is broad and the standards are high.
Civil Engineering Services
Full civil engineering capability from an ISO-accredited team, supporting your project from design to handover.
SuDS Drainage Systems
Manage surface water properly with drainage systems that protect your roads and satisfy regulatory requirements.
Ducting and Cabling Installation
Underground utility infrastructure installed efficiently, with proper reinstatement that won’t cause problems later.
Highway Drainage Solutions
Drainage solutions that satisfy planners, meet SuDS requirements, and protect your site from water problems.
Project enabling works
Get your site ready for construction with expert groundwork that prevents delays and costly discoveries.
Tennis Courts & Sport surfacing
Sports surfaces that meet official playing standards and deliver consistent performance season after season.
Block Paving & Concrete Flags
Paving and flag installations for public and commercial spaces, ensuring long-term, low-maintenance and high visual standards.
Highway maintenance and facilities
Reactive repairs cost up to 20 times more than planned maintenance. We help you get out of the reactive trap.
Whether you’re managing a council network, an industrial estate, or a retail park, we deliver planned and reactive maintenance that extends asset life, protects users, and reduces total cost of ownership. It’s not glamorous work. It is, however, the work that keeps your facilities safe, your tenants happy, and your liability under control.
Highways Maintenance
Keep your network safe and serviceable with responsive maintenance from an NHSS-accredited contractor.
Winter Maintenance and Gritting
Stay operational through winter with prompt gritting and clearance that keeps your sites safe.
Pothole & Pavement Repairs
Rapid response repairs that fix hazards properly, protecting users and reducing your ongoing liability.
Traffic Management (Temporary & Permanent)
Safe, compliant traffic control that satisfies highway authorities and keeps your programme running to schedule.
Bridge & Barrier Repairs
Protect your infrastructure investment with expert repairs that restore safety and extend operational lifespan.
Signage & Road Marking Installation
Clear, compliant markings and signage that guide traffic safely and meet regulatory requirements.
Backlog Defect Resolution
Thousands of developments across the UK are stuck in adoption limbo. Defects unresolved. Bond capital locked. Section 38, Section 278, and Section 104 agreements gathering dust while maintenance liabilities quietly grow.
Sound familiar? You’re not alone. And you don’t have to keep carrying it.
Our Adoption Management System gives you a single, fixed-fee quotation to clear your backlog defects and drive each scheme through to full highway adoption and sewer adoption sign-off.
That means your capital gets released. Your liability shrinks. And those legacy sites finally come off your books.
We’re specialists in the adoption and vesting of highways (S38, S278, S111), sewers (S104, S102, S185), pumping stations, and public open space; with the NHSS accreditation and ISO compliance to back it up.
Our 4 stage adoption process
1: Desk-based review
Highways+ undertake a 'free of charge' desk-based review and report including:
- Review of information provided by client.
- Initial contact with Adopting Authority to check status from their records.
- Production of email report containing findings and recommendations to proceed with the adoption.
- Quotation to undertake an essential Investigation Works
2: Site Investigation
Highway+ undertake any essential site investigations works (site specific) and review all technical, consultancy and legal requirements to secure adoption. Upon completion of the investigation works, we issue our client with a detailed Adoption Solution Report. These works may include:
- Liaison with the Adopting Authority
- Conduct visual inspections of highways alongside the Adopting Authority
- Undertake visual inspection of Manholes with Council or Water Company (highway drainage or Section 104)
- CCTV survey of sewers street testing provision of NICEIC certificates.
- Core samples or trial pits in highways, as-built surveys.
- Review legals inc. sewer and WAF easements, service verge issues etc.
- Review status of agreements, technical approval, and engrossments Design amendments and CAD work.
- Review all technical and legal requirements
3: Remedial, technical and legal works
Item remedial works:
- Manhole remedials and sewer length excavations.
- Pump stations works.
- Specialist sewers lining.
- Highways remedials and final surfacing.
- Street lighting works.
- Service diversions and utility works.
- Water box works.
Technical and consultancy:
- Liaison with Adopting Authority and coordination of interim inspections.
- Resident liaison throughout project.
- Site surveys and drawings
- Support with agreements (104, 102, 185, 38, 37, 278, 111)
- Production of adoption documentation (CDM file, PS manuals etc)
- Health and safety reviews.
Legal works:
- Managing legal works including 3rd party liaison.
- Internal Solicitor.
- New and retrospective Easements.
- Land transfer and conveyancing.
- Service verge issues.
4: Technical admin and sign off
- Liaison with Adopting Authority.
- Any outstanding technical works.
- Produce site inventory (as required)
- Obtain Maintenance or Adoption Certificate
Obtain Maintenance or Adoption Certificate
Your most frequently asked service questions...answered
Why should I choose Highways Plus for my next project?
Here’s what makes us different, and why our clients keep coming back.
Fixed-fee cost certainty
No open-ended hourly rates. One lump sum figure. We absorb the risk; you get a number you can budget against.
Full-house accreditations
ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, NHSS, CSCS, Chapter 8. Your insurance policy against compliance failures and project shutdowns.
In-house fleet, 24-hour mobilisation
No subcontractor chains. No waiting weeks for someone else’s programme. We move when you need us to.
Regional specialists with Tier 1 governance
Based in Bristol, delivering across the South West, South Wales, and Thames Valley. Local knowledge, national-standard delivery.
What's the difference between Section 38, 278, and 104 agreements?
Section 38 covers the adoption of new estate roads by the Local Authority. Section 278 covers works carried out on existing public highways (like new site access points or junction improvements). Section 104 covers the adoption of new sewers by the water authority. Most developments involve all three, and they’re often the reason schemes get stuck in adoption limbo. Learn more about the different types of highway agreements.
How long does highway adoption typically take?
It varies widely. A well-managed scheme with no outstanding defects can clear adoption in 12 to 18 months after the maintenance period ends. Schemes with backlog defects can sit for five years or more. Our Adoption Management System is designed to shorten that timeline by tackling defects systematically and managing council liaison throughout.
What does NRSWA compliance involve?
The New Roads and Street Works Act governs how and when works can be carried out on the public highway. Compliance means proper noticing through Street Manager, correct signing, lighting, and guarding (the “Red Book”), and reinstatements that meet specification. Non-compliance exposes you to Section 74 overrun charges and defect liabilities that can run for years.
Where does Highways Plus operate?
We’re based in Paulton, Bristol, and deliver projects across the South West, South Wales, and the Thames Valley. That includes Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Cardiff, Newport, Swindon, Oxford, Reading, and the surrounding commuter belt.
What accreditations does Highways Plus hold?
We’re certified to ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental), and ISO 45001 (health and safety). We hold National Highway Sector Schemes (NHSS) accreditation, and our workforce is CSCS-certified. These aren’t decorative badges; they’re the minimum bar for working on council frameworks and Tier 1 contractor supply chains.
How do you reduce commuted sums?
Commuted sums are calculated on assumed asset lifespan. By specifying longer-life materials (for example, polymer-modified bitumen or deeper-lift construction), we can argue for lower contributions on the basis that the asset will require less future maintenance. We also audit council calculations for errors, which can be substantial on complex schemes.
Can you work nights and weekends to minimise disruption?
Yes. For retail, logistics, and council clients where operational continuity matters, we run night-shift and weekend phasing as standard. Our opening hours run 7am to 8pm, seven days a week, and we mobilise 24 hours on urgent reactive work.
What's the minimum project size you take on?
We work on projects from small reactive pothole call-outs through to multi-million pound road construction and adoption schemes. The deciding factor isn’t size; it’s whether our specialism is a genuine fit for what you need.
Do you handle the full adoption process, or just the physical works?
The full process. That includes desk-based review, site investigation, remedial works, technical liaison with the adopting authority, legal coordination (including easements and land transfer), and final sign-off. One accountable partner, one point of contact, one quotation.
How quickly can you mobilise?
For planned works, we’ll agree a start date that fits your programme. For reactive and emergency works, we typically mobilise within 24 to 48 hours, with 24/7 call-out available for highway safety incidents.
Got a project? Let's talk.
Whether you’ve got a scheme stuck in adoption, a council network to maintain, or a warehouse yard that needs to take a beating for the next 15 years, we’d like to hear about it.