Roads - Permanent Closures
There may be instances when permanent closures of the highway
are either necessary or desirable.
A permanent road closure can be processed under two Acts of
Parliament:
- The Highways Act 1980
- The Town and Country Planning Act 1990
Closure due to the highway being
unnecessary
If the reason for the closure is that the highway is deemed
unnecessary and there is a nearer or more commodious alternative
route available to the public, the highway authority can apply to a
magistrates’ court, on behalf of an applicant, for an order to stop
the highway under Section 116 to 119 of the Highways Act 1980.
Objections
In all cases proposed closures are subject to consultation and
objections may be received from interested parties opposing such
proposals.
Objections to the closure may be received from:
- Various bodies who may oppose the closure proposal (Ramblers
Association etc.)
- Utility companies (eg United Utilities) who have apparatus in
the road that may require diversion, etc. The applicant will have
to pay for this work if the closure is granted.
Other permanent closures
The following closures can be processed under Section 257 of the
Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
If your application requires the closure of a public right
of way (public footpath or bridleway) or an adopted footway or
passageway (which cannot be used for vehicular access), please
contact us for guidance.