Road adoption

About this service

We adopt roads by different methods as prescribed in the Highways Act 1980 and thereby take on the responsibility for their full maintenance.

An adopted road is a road that is maintained at public expense by the Highway Authority, which for Wiltshire, (excluding Swindon Borough) is the Wiltshire Council. All adopted roads are regularly inspected and maintained which may include:

  • Resurfacing
  • Patching
  • Grass cutting
  • Gulley cleaning
  • Renewal of road markings
  • Weed spraying
  • Grip re-cutting
  • Sign cleaning

Other highways, such as Public Rights of Way (PROW) are open to the public but are not inspected or maintained to the same standards as roads and pavements.

The Motorway (M4) and Trunk Roads (A303, A36, A419) in the County are maintained by agents of the Highways Agency.

How does a road become adopted?

When a road is built by us, adoption is fairly straight forward. If a road is built by a third party, e.g. the builder of a residential, commercial or industrial development, a legal agreement is made (Section 38) with us. This agreement says that we will adopt the roads if they are built too a pre-defined standard of detail and construction. A financial contribution towards future maintenance may also be included. There are different types of agreements that can be entered into with the Highway Authority.

Adopted highways come into existence by means of a legal process and can only cease to be adopted highway by means of a legal process.

Sometimes the adoption process can take a long time and while the road remains unadopted, it is in the ownership of the developer who is also responsible for the maintenance of the road/s within the development.

If you live in a road that is not currently adopted and want to know whether and when the road is likely to be adopted, or if you are a developer proposing to construct a new road and you wish to find out more about the processes required to secure its adoption, please contact us at customercare@wiltshire.gov.uk

Developers can request copies of the "Specification and Notes for Guidance for Highway Works by Developers Under Agreement" which are available at a cost of £8.00.

Contact Details

Email: clarence@wiltshire.gov.uk
Telephone: 0800 23 23 23 - From landlines within Wiltshire: or 01225 77 72 34 From Mobiles and from outside Wiltshire.
Fax: 01225 713488
Postal Address:
Customer Services
Wiltshire Council
County Hall
Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14 8JN

Last updated: 14 August 2009