Highway licences

Please read through the steps below before applying for an Oversail Licence.

Applications in all cases should be submitted at least 10 working says before the licence is required. 

The applicant must be the owner of the building from which the item projects and must have in place at the time of application all relevant Planning Permissions.

There is an application fee of £1710 plus an area fee of £15 per m2 of highway over which the job arm sails (total area to be determined and agreed by both parties). Additional payment will be charged by invoice for the area fee once we have received the application.

All the necessary information must be provided as part of the application process and any application without this information will not be considered 

• You are required to submit minimum Public Liability of Insurance document of £10,000,000.
• A copy of your complete method statement for the safe operation of the crane showing that you meet all of the requisite Health & Safety requirements.
• A detailed plan, preferably on CAD showing the precise location of the crane tower and an arc showing the full, working extent of the jib in relation to the highway(s) over which it will sail.

If any conditions are not adhered to, it will result in a £250 fine for each contravention.

It is an offence to oversail the highway without obtaining a licence from the Council. An unauthorised crane oversailing the highway carries a fine of £2,500.

Apply for an oversail licence

(Fees as at 1 April 2026)