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Guidance

This page will provide you with guidance notes for completion of application forms on topics such as:

Place and Date of Application

An application for Construction Consent should be made on Form CC1.

Completed application forms should be submitted at least three months prior to the intended commencement of construction to the Roads Authority's Representative appropriate to the locality of the development.

The application for Construction Consent for as large an area as is feasible is to be recommended. This will allow a roads layout to be established.

The Consent area may be phased and the value of the Road Bond will be relative to each phase. However, each section must be able to provide for turning traffic within the section.

Design

All design must be undertaken in accordance with Aberdeenshire Council’s document entitled Standards for Road Construction Consent and Adoption.

Submission of Plans and Associated Documents

Applications for Construction Consent should be accompanied by four paper copies of detailed working drawings folded to A4 size which should include the following:

  1. top of pageA location plan, showing proposed development on the Ordnance Survey base, to a scale of 1:1250 or 1:2500, showing the proposed road network and its relationship to existing development.
  2. A layout plan of the carriageways, footways, cycleways, verges, footpaths, cycle paths, retaining walls, bridges, drainage systems and earthworks to a scale of 1:500 (1:200 where pedestrian/vehicle/cycle shared surfaces are proposed) showing:
  • the proposed centre, building and kerb lines (and also the back of the footway where this differs from the building line)
  • curve radii of the road alignment and junctions
  • dimensioned visibility splays at road junctions
  • vehicular access points to properties
  • pedestrian crossing points at junctions and other locations where dropped kerbs will be provided
  • cycle crossing points with dropped kerbs where shared use facilities are proposed
  • the location of all road gullies
  • the location of the road drainage system and its discharge points
  • the location and type of lighting columns and lanterns, wall-mounted lighting units (if applicable), control pillars, underground cables and road crossing ducts
  • the location of all underground services and ancillary apparatus
  • the full extent of all excavated and infill slopes
  • the boundaries of any areas which it is intended will subsequently be offered for adoption or maintenance
  • the layout and specification of all road markings, signs, street name plates and traffic signals
  • precise site limits
  • ground floor levels
  • details of SUDS system
  • driveway gradients
  • locations of traffic calming measures
  1. Road Profiles to a scale 1:500 Horizontal 1:100 Vertical
  2. Surface Water Drainage Profiles to a scale 1:500 Horizontal 1:100 Vertical
  3. Typical Cross Sections
  4. Section 79(1) Agreement for any bridges or structures
  5. A Safety Audit for the design in accordance with HD19/94 and HA42/94
  6. Consultation Certificates from appropriate bodies
  7. Site Investigation Information
  8. Form RB1
  9. Design and Check Certificates
  10. General Arrangement Drawing of all Structures showing the structural form, clear span(s) and other leading dimensions, headroom or clearance, materials, finishes and parapets with elevation, plan and typical cross sections to scales 1:50, 1:20, 1:10 as appropriate.
  11. Cycling Audit
  12. Disability Access Audit

It will be acceptable for these documents to be submitted in an approved electronic format. The Local Roads Authority's Representative should be contacted to confirm details of acceptable etop of pagelectronic formats.

Drainage

Drainage should be designed to include a Sustainable Urban Drainage System (SUDS).

Design calculations and design and check certificates for the drainage system will be required to show the adequacy of both the system and the discharge points.

Drainage layout and design must be approved by Representatives of the Local Roads Authority, Scottish Water and SEPA.

Where connections are made to a private drainage system written confirmation is required to show that authority has been obtained from the appropriate proprietor.

Structures

Where the submission includes structural design, the application must include detailed drawings and calculations to demonstrate the suitability of the structure to carry the imposed loading, to provide the required standard of durability and to provide waterway suitable for a 200 year return period flood event with at least 300mm clearance to the soffit.

The submission is to be accompanied by design and check certificates. The form of the certificates will be determined by the Local Roads Authority's representative taking into account the complexity of the structure(s) involved and will follow the format set out in BD2/89 of the DMRB.

If the need for additional or amended structures arises after the granting of Construction Consent, the Developer should seek the approval of the Local Roads Authority's Representative, before starting construction, who may require further details and design and check certificate to be submitted, depending on the nature of the addition or amendment.

Safety Audit

All roads, junctions, improvements by Developers will require to be audited for safety. A copy of the Safety Audit should be included with the Construction Consent application.

All Safety Audits shall be carried out by an Aberdeenshire Council atop of pagepproved Safety Auditor in accordance with HD19/94 and HA42/94.

Responsibility for Design

The granting of Construction Consent does not imply that the Local Roads Authority accepts any responsibility for the accuracy or suitability of the design.

Soil Report

A soil report should be provided giving the C.B.R. test results of the sub-grade, for sub-base determination.

If the road construction is to be less than 450mm the soil report should include a certificate of non-frost susceptibility for the sub-grade.

The site investigation should also determine the suitability of the underlying soil for the chosen SUDS treatment methods and this should be considered in the submitted report.

Mineral Report

In areas which are known to have been infilled or have a history of mineral workings, the Local Roads Authority's Representative may require the developer seeking Construction Consent to supply a mineral report together with supporting information on ground stability.

Docqueting of Plans

It is essential that the plans, detailed drawings and specification submitted with the application are docqueted:

This is the plan/drawing/specification referred to in the application, signed and dated by the applicant.

Notification of Owners

Where any person other than the developer owns land which fronts, abuts or is comprehended in the new road(s) or the extension of the existing roads(s) for which Construction Consent is being sought, the developer will be required to declare that all such persons have been notified of the application for Construction Consent. A draft Notice for Service on Owner and Occupiers is included for the convenience of applicants.

Owner's Objections

Atop of pageny person to whom the application has been intimated under the provisions of the preceding paragraph may, within twenty-eight days of the date of intimation, make written representation to the Local Roads Authority. Any such representations will be considered before Construction Consent is granted.

Hearing of Applicant

Should it be considered that the application for Construction Consent be refused or granted subject to special conditions, the applicant will be afforded an
opportunity to be heard prior to such a decision being made.

Construction Period

It will be a standard condition of any Construction Consent that the Construction will be completed within the period specified in the Consent. This period will not be less than three years and will based on the Developer's proposed programme of works.

If, as a result of a change in circumstances during construction, it is demonstrated that the specified period is no longer realistic, the Local Roads Authority may grant an extension.

In normal circumstances, once homes are occupied, no more than one extension of time will be granted by the Local Roads Authority.

If the full development is not completed within the specified period, including any extension, the Developer will be required to amend the Construction Consent to allow adoption of that part which is open to public use.

Alternatively, the roads will be completed by the Local Roads Authority using the Road Bond.

Appeal and Amendments

Right of Appeal

If an application for Construction Consent is (i) refused or (ii) granted subject to special conditions, the applicant may within 28 days of the date of intimation of such a decision appeal to the Scottish Ministers.

Amendments to Consent

Should the Developer, for any reason, wish to depart from the construction or layout details for which Construction Consent has been granted, he must first seek the approval of the Local Roads Authority's Representative. Major changes may require the submission of a new application for Construction Consent.

Road Lighting

Ttop of pagehe Developer should note that provision of road and footway lighting is made by the developer(s) and at their own expense, such provision to be to the specification of the Local Roads Authority. In the interest of public safety the Developer should provide operational street lighting adjacent to occupied housing.

Four copies of the layout plan at 1/500 scale showing the Developer's detailed proposals for lighting should be submitted with Application for Construction Consent.

Road Bond

Where a developer is required to lodge a Road Bond or deposit, Form RB1 (obtainable at the Transportation and Infrastructure offices or these webpages) should be completed by the Guarantor as part of the application for Construction Consent.

The Road Bond must be lodged with the Local Roads Authority before any house building can commence.

An A4 size drawing shall be provided showing the Construction Consent area applied for outlined in red.

The area for which a bond is required for any section within the Consent area is to be outlined in blue.

The Local Roads Authority's Representative shall determine the amount of bond sufficient to meet the cost of completing the private road in accordance with the Construction Consent.

Method of Estimating Bond

The Developer is requested on Form RB1 to provide an estimate of the cost of the different elements of road, footway, verge, drainage, structures and lighting within the development.

The Local Roads Authority's Representative will determine the adequacy of the estimates from the information provided and revise the figure as necessary to meet the cost of constructing the road in actop of pagecordance with the construction consent at present day prices.

An allowance of 5% per annum compounded should be used for calculating the index between the date of application and the termination of the consent period (ie the multiplying factor for 3 years would be 1.16).

Reduction of Bond

On completion of the carriageway binder course and kerb log to the satisfaction of the Local Roads Authority's Representative written application may be made for a reduction in Bond to 50% of its value.

On completion of the carriageway, footways and cycle tracks to adoptable standard, a written application may be made for a reduction in Bond to 10% of its value.

Inspection Fees

Attention is drawn to Section 140(6) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 which entitles the Local Roads Authority to recover expenses reasonably incurred by them to ensure that the work carried out complies with the Construction Consent.

The recovery of these costs will be from the person to whom the Construction Consent was granted.

The Local Roads Authority gives notice of its intention to recover those expenses to which it is entitled under the Act.

Adoption of New Roads

Following completion of a private road constructed in accordance with a Construction Consent, a written application for its inclusion in the Local Roads Authority's
list of public roads may be submitted to the appropriate Local Roads Authority's Representative by the person to whom such consent was granted.

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The submission should include copies of the drawings described in Section 3 above, and contain all relevant details as built. These drawings may be submitted as paper copies or electronic versions in a suitable CAD format.

The roads, footways, cycle tracks, drainage systems and structures offered for adoption should be shown in colour, and the plans should clearly indicate the ownership of all areas so coloured. A 1/2500 scale drawing showing the development should be included.

If a Stage 3 Safety Audit has been requested the results of this audit shall be provided along with the application.

In addition the Developer will be required to provide a copy of the site Health and Safety File. This should include details of construction techniques used and maintenance requirements for any novel features included in the development, such as structures, SUD systems and the like. Further guidance can be sought on this topic from:

  • Managing Health and Safety in Construction
  • Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 1994
  • Approved Code of Practise and guidance, published by the Health and Safety Executive and HSE Information Sheet, Construction Sheet No 44.

Within a period of twelve months from the time of application for adoption of a new road, an inspection will be undertaken by the Local Roads Authority's Representative to ensure that the road has not deteriorated to a standard below that required for adoption. Any defects will have to be made good to the satisfaction of the Local Roads Authority's Representative.

Following a satisfactory adoption inspection, recommendation will be made to the Local Roads Authority that the roads be added to the list of public roads, in terms of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, as appropriate.

Following a satisfactory adoption inspection, which would allow the adoption of roads to proceed, a written application may be made for the remaining security or Bond to be returned.

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