Road adoption is a term used to describe the Council taking ownership of a 'private street'.
A 'private street' is a road which is not maintained at public expense. This means that the Council, as a highway authority, is under no obligation to carry out repairs or cleansing to the street, even though it could be a public right of way to which highway and traffic law can be applied.
New roads that have been constructed in accordance with the Council's guidelines, and which contribute to the highway network, are normally adopted by way of an agreement between the developer and the Council under section 38 of the Highways Act 1980.
Existing roads will not normally be adopted unless they are first brought up to current standards by the owners of the road. Unadopted roads may for example be unpaved, without kerbs, footways, surface water sewers, gullies and lighting, and their surfaces may be in a poor condition.
FAQs
How do I know if my road has been adopted?
The status of all roads in the borough is contained in the Highway Register (follow the link on the right to view). The register will tell you whether the road is public highway, private or a council housing estate road. It will also tell you whether the Council is responsible for its maintenance.
Will the Council adopt my road?
Existing roads will not normally be adopted unless they are first brought up to current standards by the owners of the road. This includes drainage, street lighting, road surface and pavements. The owners or titleholders of the road may be frontagers or may be a single land owner or a company. You can find out who owns the road outside your house from the Land Registry (follow the link on the right to view their website).