Guidance for developers

Highway design

The design standards and departures for highway schemes (improvements, maintenance, and developments) are available upon request.

Further information is available on our adoption of new roads pages.

The guidance notes signpost to several other documents, including:

Take the Lincolnshire’s Streetscape design manual into account when applying either of these documents.

CMP and SuDS method statement

Before work can start on a development site, you must have both:

  • a Construction Management Plan (CMP)
  • a Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) Method Statement

You must have measures in place to manage the impact on the existing highway network. You must take reasonable steps to prevent the risk of flooding and pollution on and off site during construction.

When and how you construct SuDS features will differ from site to site. You must consider how you will manage surface water and prevent flooding to surrounding land during the construction phase. If you construct SuDS features at the beginning of the project, you must protect them for the remainder of the construction phase.

You can find further details in the CIRIA SuDS Manual.

Standard contents

  • Contact details for who is ensuring the CMP and SuDS MS is available and adhered to
  • Details of the nature of work must be complete.
  • Site plans
  • A written summary of the proposed surface water management for pre, during and post-construction. This should include:
    • the existing site use
    • soil types
    • infiltration
    • groundwater
    • outfall points (both temporary and permanent)
    • the future maintenance of drainage systems
  • Details and supporting plans for the build route, phasing plan and sequence of works. It must consider show homes, visitor parking and early occupations in this phasing.
  • Strategy and plans showing:
    • the site compound
    • parking for site operatives and visitors
    • details for the loading, unloading and storage of plant and materials
    • details for wheel washing facilities
    • details for deliveries and refuse collection
  • Temporary and permanent access to construction phasing and plans.
  • Routing for construction traffic
  • The details of utility connections. This must include the consideration of trench sharing and collaborative working between statutory undertakers
  • Details of any traffic management needed on the existing highway network. It must consider lead-in times.
  • Details of scaffolding, skips and hoarding needed on the existing highway
  • The strategy that states how you will manage surface water run-off on and from the development during construction. This needs support from plans
  • Details of any site-specific ecological issues or features that need protection
  • The strategy for sediment control and erosion control. This must include:
    • consideration of how this may impact on the final performance of the drainage system
    • any requirements for necessary protection measures at the end of construction
  • Pollution control arrangements, including any possible water quality issues
  • Measures to prevent inadvertent access across any complete or incomplete SuDS features
  • Measures to ensure the formation of vegetation in SuDS features. This must include due consideration of seasonal planting, turf etc.
  • Details of the EA Flood Warning System, if necessary

We must inspect each stage of road construction.

Temporary drainage options

There are three options available during construction:

  1. Build, use and undertake remediation on the permanent drainage system
  2. Install, use and remove a temporary drainage system
  3. Use existing drainage systems with pollution control measures. This applies to brownfield sites only

There is no one size fits all for SuDS protection or remediation during construction.

Each site has different characteristics. You must consider each site individually and thoroughly.

Careful planning and programming of SuDS construction are vital.

Potential protection and remedial measures

In the production of your CMP and SuDS Method Statement, you must consider:

  • complete soil stripping sparingly and with care
  • the exposure of areas for extended periods following earthworks
  • the use of temporary bunds
  • regular pumping or emptying of attenuation areas may be necessary
  • the use of silt curtains, blankets, wattles and fences
  • covering all materials
  • using geotextile gully guards on positive systems
  • constructing temporary drainage grips, channels and slope drains
  • physical barriers around complete SuDS features to prevent vehicular access
  • vehicle routing through the site to avoid permeable surfaces becoming polluted with dust or mud
  • temporary fencing to prevent overland flows to third party land
  • the use of straw bale barriers
  • gravel trenches upstream of areas of exposed land
  • protecting swales and filter drains by using geotextiles and erosion control fabrics
  • the use of sediment traps and basins
  • removing any unstable sediment, you can then incorporate this into the topsoil
  • installing perimeter drains with stable outfalls and place around areas of significant construction works
  • temporary seeding and mulching for stabilisation
  • installing permanent stabilisation measures after final profiling
  • methods for identifying soft spots, other than proof rolling
  • the use of reinforced grass protection
  • complete isolation from run-off, if infiltration systems are on low points of the site but not for temporary drainage
  • installing a sacrificial layer of soil before final excavation
  • rotovating or scarifying sub-base
  • using a geotextile and temporary cover over permeable sub-bases
  • a strategy to avoid utility services breaking any geotextile wrapped elements of SuDS. This may include the use of 'top hats'
  • the breaching of any encapsulated contaminated land by intrusive excavation
  • the use of temporary filter trenches, especially where there is a proposal of permeable paving

This list is not exhaustive, and you may require different solutions.

Residential development roads

Developers planning a development estate road should inform us as early on in the process as possible whether the intention is for it to be adopted, or remain private.

For an adoption this must be done through the process of an agreement under Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980.

Where it is the intention for it to remain private we will serve a notice under Section 219 of the Highways Act 1980 to secure a deposit or bond unless exemptions apply.

Section 38 – to adopt by Agreement

Developers will be required to design and construct the estates roads to the following standards:

  • Development Road and Sustainable Drainage Design Approach
  • Development Road and Sustainable Drainage Specification.

They will also need to make a full submission of investigations, calculations, details, layouts with approvals/consents for technical approval.

The deposit sum/bond will then be calculated, along with the Development Road Fee and a Commuted Sum (if relevant).

The Section 38 Agreement must be signed by all parties prior to the construction of the estate road.

The adoption will be at risk if any part is constructed without being inspected by Lincolnshire County Council.

Submit a request for a proposed development estate road to be adopted.

Section 219 - The Advance Payments Code (APC)

To ensure the development streets are constructed to a satisfactory standard we have the power to secure a deposit.

The notice will be served to the landowner and developer upon notification of approval of the building regulations and a charge will be registered on the land.

The notice will be enforceable upon construction of the buildings and will be served upon all developments unless:

  • it consists of nine or less units in total
  • it consists of temporary dwellings or temporary seasonal dwellings
  • it will be occupied solely by social housing and managed by a registered provider
  • it is solely the construction of apartments or flats
  • it has a signed Section 38 Agreement
  • the new street is less than 100 yards (91.44m) in length
  • the new street is to be fronted by solely industrial and commercial buildings

If the developer has offered the estate roads for adoption, the notice will be cancelled and the land charge removed when the Section 38 Agreement has been signed.

The developer will need to make a submission of investigations, calculations, details, layouts with approvals/consents and provide evidence of construction to a satisfactory standard.

If constructed to the satisfactory standard the sum will be refunded or released and the land charge removed.

Development management leadership statement

About us

The county council’s development management team make sure that as Lincolnshire grows, it does so in a clean, green, sustainable way that makes life better not worse, for our residents.

Reviewing planning applications, approving technical designs, advising on improvements that could be made and making sure flood risk is considered properly, are all key to influencing how developments, including housing, go forward.

Continuous improvement

Lincolnshire County Council continues to support growth and development in our county. Despite difficult local and national circumstances affecting all of us, we continue to adapt and improve services and facilities.

Showing the value of good local services which support both Lincolnshire residents and local businesses, we are planning for the future and maintaining our ambitions.

Challenging times

Along with our communities, we are seeing increasing costs for both our day-to-day spending and larger projects. With increasing demand for services and restricted government funding, we are very aware of the balance we must strike between helping those who need it most, and staying afloat ourselves.

Our officers are dedicated to building strong relationships with local planning authorities, developers and other relevant organisations. This ensures the county council is integral to developments, providing trusted advice in the best interests of our county.

Lincolnshire County Council is committed to facilitating the right growth in the right area. We are committed to achieve for our local residents and communities working with public and private organisations to bring greater and lasting benefits to our county.

Our ambitions

Lincolnshire County Councils Corporate Plan sets out what we want to achieve for residents and communities across Lincolnshire.

The plan includes the following ambitions relevant to our development management approach.

Support high aspirations:

  • Help neighbourhoods flourish
  • Support businesses to succeed
  • Protect the environment for the future

Create thriving environments:

  • Look after our places in a sustainable way
  • Develop our county for a prosperous future

Provide good value council services:

  • Support community spaces and travel
  • Encourage innovation and are innovative ourselves

The council also has a constitution explaining how the council operates and makes decisions, ensuring that the council is efficient, transparent and accountable.

To help everyone understand how we work, what we need and what our priorities are, we have produced a number of guidance documents.

These documents are continually being reviewed to react to any national and local changes. They also form the basis of technical discussions and advice we give.

Our commitment to our partners

  • To work proactively with you to ensure the right developments are in the right places
  • To provide clear guidance in line with local and national policy
  • To be accessible in offering key advice and support

Contact us

Email: developmentmanagement@lincolnshire.gov.uk.
Visit: www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/highways-planning.