Highways Act 1980


The Highways Act 1980 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom dealing with the management and operation of the road network in England and Wales. It consolidated with amendments several earlier pieces of legislation. Many amendments relate only to changes of highway authority, to include new unitary councils and national parks. By virtue of the Local Government Act 1994 and the Environment Act 1995, most references to local authority are taken to also include Welsh councils and national park authorities.
By virtue of the National Assembly for Wales Order 1999 most references to 'the Minister' are taken to include the National Assembly for Wales. The Act is split into 14 parts covering 345 sections, it also includes 25 schedules.

Part 1: Highway authorities and agreements between authorities

Part 1 includes sections 1 to 9 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 2 includes sections 10 to 23 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 3 includes sections 24 to 35 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Private landowners sometimes display a notice quoting Section 31, when there is no dedication of a public right of way.

Part 4: Maintenance of highways

Part 4 includes sections 36 to 61 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Under Section 38 of the Act, the highway authority may enter into an agreement with a developer of land on either side or both sides of a private street. The authority can agree to adopt the street as a highway maintainable at public expense when all the street works have been carried out to their satisfaction, and the developer agrees to carry them out within a stated time. It is customary for the developer to enter into a bond for their performance with a bank or building society.

Part 5: Improvement of highways

Part 5 includes sections 62 to 105 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 6 includes sections 106 to 111 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 7 includes sections 112 to 115 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 8 includes sections 116 to 129 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 9 includes sections 130 to 185 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 10 includes sections 186 to 202 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 11 includes sections 203 to 237 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 12 includes sections 238 to 271 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
Part 13 includes sections 272 to 281 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
A Section 278 Agreement allows private developers to either fund or complete works to public highways outside or beyond the development site itself, such as traffic calming and capacity improvements. The document is signed by the local highway authority and the developer to ensure that works are completed to the highway authority's satisfaction.

Part 14: Miscellaneous and supplementary powers

Part 14 includes sections 282 to 345 of the Act. The legislation contained in these sections covers:
The Act contains 25 schedules.