Development Design and Specification

Roads in residential or industrial developments must meet requirements for materials and workmanship in order to be adopted by Suffolk County Council.

Suffolk County Council as highway authority, is responsible for ensuring the safe delivery of roads required by developers to facilitate new residential developments.

Suffolk County Council will consider adoption and maintenance at the public expense. All new residential estate roads and associated essential infrastructure, which are considered to provide sufficient public benefit, via the provision of access to developments of six or more dwellings subject to specific criteria being met.

Agreements under Section 38 is the preferred method of securing adoption of new highways. An Agreement, under this section of the 1980 Act, provides a structured robust procedure for the technical approval of the works, regular inspections, and mechanisms through which the works are completed to an appropriate standard and other Council requirements.

SCC Design Manual

This document outlines the requirements for ensuring that new streets in Suffolk meet certain design standards. These standards help to ensure that new streets function in a practical and safe manner and help deliver the aspirations of the county. It’s aim is to provide transport consultants, architects, town planners, urban designers, and developers with straight-forward highway design technical guidance and specifications for street works.

SCC Construction Specification

This specification applies to any works in, under or over a highway or proposed way, specifying the:

  • standards of materials and workmanship to be used
  • way works should be carried out
  • tolerances that must be met in construction
  • roads that meet the SCC Construction Specifications and the requirements of the Suffolk Design Streets Guide should be eligible for adoption by the SCC and maintained at public expense

Standard drawings

These drawings detail how highway elements must be built if they are to be adopted by Suffolk County Council as the Highway Authority.

Commuted sums

Suffolk County Council will apply commuted sums in accordance with Sections 38 and 278 of the Highways Act 1980. The rates published at the time of Technical Acceptance (TA) will be used for the agreement. Where a TA expires, the commuted sum will be recalculated using the rates in effect at the time of reassessment.

Contact us

Email highways.developmentcontrol@suffolk.gov.uk with any questions about the Estate Road Specification.