Apply for crane licence

A licence is required to operate any type of crane on or over the Highway

What is it for

A licence is required to operate any type of Crane on the public Highway, or if any part of the crane or its load over-sails the public Highway any time during the lift or for any length of time.

Should you require the use of a Mobile Elevated Working Platform (MEWP), most commonly a cherry picker, then please use the Apply for a MEWP Licence page.

Who can apply

Companies should apply of behalf of their customers.

The crane licence will only be granted to the individual or firm making the application. It cannot be transferred to any other person or firm.

Before you apply

When applying for a crane licence it is a requirement that the applicant shall hold £10 million public liability insurance.

To enable us to process your application the following information must be provided:

  • 1:500 plan showing the location and extent of the crane
  • a comprehensive traffic management plan
    (examples of traffic management plans)
  • the name and contact details of person who can be called out on a 24 hour a day basis to deal with any emergencies
  • risk assessment, method statement (RAMS)

Failure to provide appropriate supporting documentation will delay the processing of your application.

Conditions of license

Made under Section 169 and or Section 178 of the Highways Act 1980

Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions contained in this Licence to erect, operate and maintain on or over a highway, a crane which is deployed on, or which overhangs/oversails the highway (pursuant to section 169 and/ or section 178 of the Highways Act: 1980).
  1. Upon the issuing of the Licence, the applicant will be the party to whom the Licence is issued under the terms and conditions herein and in pursuance of section 169 and/ or section 178 of the Highways Act 1980 and will be referred to in the Licence as “the Licensee”.
  2. A Licence to erect, operate and maintain a crane on or overhanging/oversailing the highway will only be issued to the Licensee. It cannot be transferred to any other person or firm.
  3. The Licensee shall allow at least 10 clear working days between the date of application for this Licence on the highway and the date on which the Licence is intended to commence.
  4. The Licensee shall undertake a comprehensive risk assessment to address every aspect of the building, operation, maintenance and dismantling and removal of the crane  and the effect of and on all types of traffic that will pass under or nearby the crane. Proof of compliance to the Highway Authority’s satisfaction maybe required by the Highway Authority prior to the granting of the Licence and at any time throughout the duration of the Licence
  5. A crane shall be placed and operated so as to avoid undue obstruction and interference with users of the highway and any oversail of any crane arm shall be at least 5.2m clear of the highest point of the carriageway or 3.5m clear of the highest point of a footway or similar. Additionally adequate facilities shall be made for pedestrians (including those with disabilities) to safely use the highway in the vicinity.
  6. The Licensee will be responsible for ensuring that the erection, operation, maintenance and dismantling or removal of the crane is in compliance with BS7121-1 and that the crane  is erected, operated, maintained and dismantled and removed in accordance with the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
  7. The Licensee shall not operate the crane during traffic sensitive times or as prescribed by the Authority. And shall not leave the crane on or overhanging/oversailing the highway outside of these hours of otherwise when not in operation without the express permission of the Highway Authority.
  8. It is the Licensee’s responsibility to obtain any necessary permission and consent from any property owners that the crane is placed on or overhangs/oversails.
  9. Nothing in this Licence absolves the Licensee’s responsibility from obtaining any Planning Permission from the Local Planning Authority.
  10. The Licensee shall ensure that the crane is erected, operated, maintained and removed/dismantled by suitably qualified personnel.
  11. Any part of the crane that is on or overhanging/oversailing the highway shall be adequately lit at all times between half an hour before sunset to half an hour after sunrise.
  12. Any provision for providing a safe route for pedestrians shall be in accordance with the current Safety at Street Works and Road Works Code of Practice.
  13. The erection, use, removal and maintenance of the crane shall be signed and guarded at all times, in accordance with the requirements described in Chapter 8 of the Traffic Signs Manual. The Highway Authority will require signing and guarding proposals to be submitted prior to the approval of the licence.
  14. No part of the highway shall be excavated without obtaining the prior express and specific permission of the Highway Authority.
  15. No part of the highway shall be damaged during operations and positive measures shall be used to prevent this e.g. packing under stabilising legs.
  16. The Licensee shall ensure that the crane does not cause a danger or nuisance to the public.
  17. The erection or operation of the crane must not commence prior to the date specified in the Licence and any operation on or over the highway must cease before the end of the specified period.
  18. The crane must be dismantled or removed before the end of the specified period.
  19. Any request for an extension to the period for which the licence has been granted must be made by submitting a further application and fee to the County Council at least 48 hours (excluding Saturday and Sunday and Bank Holidays) prior to the expiry of the existing licence
  20. Any significant alterations to a licensed structure that will affect the highway shall cause the licence to be withdrawn unless the highway authority first agrees such alterations. Where such alterations are to be made the licence holder shall inform the highway authority in writing giving full details of the alterations, including any change to the lighting and signing & guarding arrangements.
  21. The Licensee must implement any measures that the Highway Authority or undertaker (under the meaning of s48 of the New Roads and Street Works Act: 1991) reasonably requests for the purpose of protecting or giving access to any apparatus belonging to or used or maintained by them.
  22. The Licensee shall hold at least £10 million public liability insurance.
  23. Except where agreed as part of this licence no part of the highway may be closed at any time without the express and specific consent of the Highway Authority
  24. The Licensee is responsible for contacting undertakers (under the meaning of s48 of the New Roads and Street Works Act: 1991) to establish whether or not their apparatus may be affected in the operation of this Licence.
  25. The Highway Authority shall have the right to impose additional conditions prior to issuing a Licence, in order to discharge the Highway Authority’s duties under s130 Highways Act 1980 and s3 Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.
  26. The Licensee shall indemnify and keep indemnified the Highway Authority against all liability, loss, claim or proceeding howsoever arising under statute or common law in respect of :
    • Erection, operation, maintenance and dismantling and removal in or over the highway of any crane,  or any associated structures, equipment and any other works associated with the Licence; or
    • The execution by any person of any works associated with the Licence.
  27. The Licensee shall accept liability for any damage caused to the highway or street furniture by the crane or by the erection, use, removal or maintenance of the crane and any such damage shall be repaired to the satisfaction of the Highway Authority at the expense of the Licensee, or at the Highway Authority’s discretion the Licensee shall pay to the Highway Authority on demand a sum specified by the Highway Authority for the costs of repairing the Highway.
  28. In the event that the Licensee breaches any of the terms and conditions of this Licence the Highway Authority may terminate the permission in this Licence on immediate notice, and the Licensee shall remove any crane and associated apparatus and restore the highway to the satisfaction of the Highway Authority and at the expense of the Licensee.
  29. In the event that the Licensee fails to remove their crane  and associated apparatus or fails to restore the highway to the satisfaction of the Highway Authority, pursuant to the service of a notice terminating the permission of this licence, the Highway Authority may undertake any necessary works to remove the crane  and associated apparatus and to restore the highway and may thereafter recover any costs incurred from the Licensee
  30. A duplicate copy of the Licence should be prominently displayed (at ground level) on any part of the crane on the highway or otherwise be available for inspection at all times for the duration of the Licence.
Notes
  • The ‘highway’ can include the carriageway, footway and any verge.
  • If the applicant objects to these conditions or a refusal by the Highway Authority to approve a licence then he may appeal to the magistrates’ court.
 

Timescales

The applicant shall allow ten clear working days between the date of application for a licence and the date on which the licence is intended to commence. Installation of the structure should not commence before approval of the application has been issued.

Approval process

On receipt of your application and fee an engineer will asses the site to determine its suitability. In some instances further information or even a site visit may be required before the application is approved.

Following this assessment we will contact you with the outcome. This will consist of one of the following:

  • approval of your crane application, along with a licence that should be held on site at all times
  • rejection of your application and justification for this outcome
Charges
  • £229
  • On application / for the first 2 weeks of the licence
  • £72
  • every 2 weeks

If you would like to cancel your application after submission, you may not be entitled to a full refund if work has already commenced to process it.

You will receive an automated receipt when paying for this service. No VAT is charged as this is a non-business service and the VAT is classed as ‘out-of-scope’. However, should it be required for your records, Hampshire County Council’s VAT number is GB 189 4068 22.

Apply

When applying for a licence ensure you submit a request for the full period of work as we do not offer extensions. If you require additional time on the highway you will be required to submit a new application with the associated fees.

If you're happy you understand the conditions and charges,

Upon application you will be required to pay the fee. Please have your payment details ready before submitting your application. 

Apply for crane licence