Roads building and construction licences

Scaffolding hoarding and highway licences

Temporary change to highways licence applications

Due to planned maintenance, a temporary online form will be used for highways licence applications from 11 September to 1 October 2026. During this period, applications will not be accepted through the usual online licensing portal.

Scaffolding, hoarding and highway licences

You will need a licence if you want to put up:

Scaffolding, tower or gantry
Hoarding or other protective fence placed on or overhanging the public highway
Crane, Oversail crane, Cherry picker, Mobile platform
Temporary crossings
Portable cabin, portable toilet and container

or store:

Building materials

If you are planning to carry out work requiring access through one of our parks, please check our park access fees.

How to apply

Our highways licence application system is temporarily unavailable while we carry out essential maintenance. If you need to apply for a highways licence during this period, please use the temporary application form below.

Apply online for a licence

When to apply

All licences need to be applied for in advance.

Type of application	Advance notice needed
Suspension of a parking bay application	Must be made 21 days in advance
Pavement or road closures	Must be made 8 to 10 weeks in advance
Building Material Portable Cabin, Portable Toilet, Container Hoarding/Scaffolding Oversail Crane/ Scaffolding Crane,Cherry picker,Mobile platform	Must be made 14 days in advance

Licence fees

Please ensure that when applying for a licence, that the location is within the boundaries of Brent.

Type of licence	Fee
Building Material	Residential per week - £58.50 Residential per month - £214 Commercial per week - £112 Commercial per month - £378
Portable Cabin Portable Toilet Container	£197.22 per week £434.15 per month
Crane Cherry picker Mobile platform	£435 per day £650 per week
Hoarding/Scaffolding	Up to 10 metres - £305 per fortnight 10m to 15 metres - £390 per fortnight Over 15 metres - £770 per fortnight
Oversail Crane/ Scaffolding	£725 per annum
Skips	The non-refundable registration fee is £365.50 and the licence fee is £72.80 per fortnight
Temporary crossings	Domestic (private property) - £214 per month Commercial (development) - £725 per month

There will be an admin fee of £85 for refunds, licence amendments and processing data.

Documents you'll need and key notes

Before applying for any of these licences you will need to make sure you have the correct documentation.

You also must:

have public liability insurance, this must have a minimum cover of £5m.
contact us and let us know when the work has been is completed

Type of licence	What you'll need to provide and key notes
Building Material	proof of public liability insurance (not mandatory) You and your builder are responsible for ensuring that the materials are stored according to our standard conditions and guidelines, and following the Highways Act 1980. You are not allowed to block access to public highways, or to damage or stain public ground. If building materials are to be placed in a controlled parking zone (CPZ) location, then you must apply to suspend a parking bay.
Portable Cabin Portable Toilet Container	Provide proof of public liability insurance any traffic management plans maps of the exact location. If containers are placed in a controlled parking zone (CPZ) location, then you must apply to suspend a parking bay.
Crane Cherry picker Mobile platform	Plans showing exact location and dimensions of pavement used in metres square copies of public liability insurance any traffic management plans.
Hoarding/Scaffolding	Plans showing exact length and location of scaffolding dimensions of pavement used in metres square copies of public liability insurance.
Oversail Crane/ Scaffolding	Plans showing exact location and dimensions of pavement used in metres square copies of public liability insurance any traffic management plans. We need a minimum of 1.2m space for pedestrians to pass and re-pass along the pavement. We will not grant a scaffolding or hoarding licence which blocks the pavement until a temporary traffic order is in place from Highways. The lead time is 8-10 weeks for the licence to be put in place. To request a temporary traffic order email highways.management@brent.gov.uk
Temporary crossings	copies of public liability insurance Temporary crossings used at construction sites are built subject to our approval.

Inspections and fines

If an inspection is required due to a complaint, there is a fee of £70

When you have completed the work, you must contact us through email ssh.highwayslicences@brent.gov.uk and let us know.

An administrative fee applies when licence needs to be amended or refunded.

An enforcement officer will inspect the site for any damage, and you will have to make and pay for any necessary repairs.

Unlicensed items will incur a weekly fee of £70 for every week the item is unlicensed.

Suspend a parking bay

If an item is to be placed in a controlled parking zone (CPZ) location, then parking must be contacted to suspend the bays.

An application for a suspension of a bay must be made 21 days in advance.

Find more information and how to apply to suspend a parking bay.

Road and pavement closures

If a pavement or road closure is needed, you need to contact Highways and Infrastructure on highways.management@brent.gov.uk and apply for a temporary traffic order.

The lead time is 8-10 weeks for the licence to be put in place.

Visit road works, closures and diversions more information on:

Current and planned road works, road closures and events in Brent
Applying for a road closure
Applying for streetworks
Temporary traffic orders
Diversions

Regulations

The permit holder needs to act in accordance with the relevant laws, the most important of which are:

Weekend working

Working hours on commercial properties:

Saturday: 8am to 3pm
Sunday: No construction work

If you require any further information, please contact ssh.highwayslicences@brent.gov.uk