Street authority definition
According to the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (NRSWA), section 49(1):
| the street authority in relation to a street means, subject to the following provisions (a) if the street is a maintainable highway, the highway authority, and (b) if the street is not a maintainable highway, the street managers |
Where section 49(4) of the NRSWA suggests that:
| the expression "street managers", used in relation to a street which is not a maintainable highway, means the authority, body or person liable to the public to maintain or repair the street or, if there is none, any authority, body or person having the management or control of the street |
Typically, street authorities are county or unitary councils.
NB Code of Practice for the Co-ordination of Street Works and Works for Road Purposes and Related Matters HAUC(England) Edition issued by HAUC (England) in September 2020, defines a street authority as: ‘The authority, body or person liable to maintain a Street. If the Street is publicly maintainable then it is a Highway Authority. Also known as Street Works Authority.’
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