Structures projecting over the highway

Structures such as balconies, which oversail the highway permanently must be licensed in accordance with Section 177 of the Highways Act 1980. We are responsible for the management and issue of permanent oversail licences.

How to apply

You should submit your application by email to transportation@wandsworth.gov.uk providing the following information:

• Name, address and contact details of the licensee
• Name, address and contact details of the solicitors acting on behalf of the licensee, if applicable
• Drawings that clearly indicate the structure(s) to oversail a highway and the limit of the public highway in each case. This must include a plan view and any appropriate elevations. All drawings must be fully dimensioned in metres and appropriately scaled
• Copies of the relevant planning permissions (permission for development document) and the planning reference number(s)
• Written undertaking to settle the legal fees payable to solicitors acting on our behalf (see notes in cost section below)

Guidelines and criteria:

• The oversail structure should be constructed in accordance with planning approvals
• The vertical clearance from the underside of the proposed oversail structure and the top surface to the carriageway below will be no less than 5.1 metres
• The vertical clearance from the underside of the structure and the top surface to the footway below will be no less than 2.4 metres
• The horizontal clearance from the front fascia of the proposed oversail structure to the footway kerb edge will be no less than 600 mm

What happens next

We will inform you within 14 days if your application has been successful. If there is no objection to your application you will be notified in writing and asked to pay the application fee. When you have paid the fee an oversailing licence will be issued.

Cost

The fee to process an application is £619.

Make a payment

There will also be legal fees, payable to solicitors acting on our behalf. The fees are determined by the solicitors and you will be responsible for their payment. You will be contacted by the solicitors to advise you how much these are and when to pay them.