Worcestershire developers face 60-year maintenance cost charges

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 25 Oct, 06:02 · Archive

Worcestershire Council has adopted a policy requiring developers to pay one-off sums to cover 60 years of maintenance for non-standard highway features.

Worcestershire Council cabinet members have approved a 'commuted sums' policy requiring developers to pay towards maintaining non-standard highway features. The policy covers items added to roads that require higher or different maintenance than the council's standard specification, including bespoke paving, specialist street lighting, trees and landscaped areas. Standard roads and pavements are not covered.

A commuted sum is a one-off payment calculated to cover the long-term maintenance cost of the feature in question. The council will follow national guidance from the Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) in setting charges. The payments will cover 60 years of maintenance, or 120 years for bridges and 20 years for traffic lights. After these periods expire, maintenance costs revert to the council.

Highways chief Tom Wells said the policy will 'protect the highways maintenance budget' and 'protect taxpayers and provide transparency'. Without the policy, the council warned it would face 'an ever-increasing financial burden on the authority for the maintenance of non-standard highway assets when they are adopted' by the council. Other councils including Leicestershire already operate similar schemes. The policy is subject to consultation.

How it is being reported

• Developers face 60-year maintenance bills under Worcestershire highway policyDEVELOPERS will have to pay towards the cost of maintaining highways infrastructure in Worcestershire.Worcester News · 25 Oct, 05:03
• Developers face 60-year maintenance bills under Worcestershire highway policyDEVELOPERS will have to pay towards the cost of maintaining highways infrastructure in Worcestershire.Malvern Gazette · 25 Oct, 05:03

In this story: Worcestershire Council · Tom Wells · Leicestershire · Worcestershire · Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport

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