Before you start
You need your:
- Credit or debit card – the fee is £280 per licence
- An in-date public liability insurance certificate (minimum indemnity of £10 million)
- Information and documentation listed below:
- plan of exact location details of the proposed cultivation area
- detailed description of the proposal and types of planting (Photographs can be provided in addition to this)
- evidence of any consultation with frontagers (owner of land or property) and utility companies undertaken must be provided (where required)
- planning permission approval (if applicable)
It is important to read the guidance below before submitting your online application.
Consultations
Consultations (if applicable) must be carried out with all owners/occupiers of adjacent land or properties. This includes erecting site notices near the application area to ensure the structure/equipment will not be a nuisance to them or to highway users.
Note: consult properties of frontages with interest either side of the proposed location of the proposed cultivation area. The number of owners or occupiers likely to be affected by/interested in an application may depend on the nature of the proposal, and the number of properties in close proximity to the location of the cultivation proposal and the county council may on receipt of the application, ask you to consult more widely.
Planning permission
Confirmation of planning permission (if applicable) is required from the local authority. Contact the local authority if you're not sure.
Temporary excavation in the highway licence
If any ‘Temporary excavations’ in the highway are required, a separate permit is necessary.
For example: Any excavation of the highway greater than 100 mm deep or works requiring traffic management, signs or guarding, which may affect highway users, the applicant must ensure that a temporary excavation street works permit is also approved to support their licence application.
Statutory underground checks
Highway authorities advise applicants to consult with Utility Companies to ensure it is safe to excavate and cultivate the proposed area and they have no objection to the proposal in accordance with this application.
Public liability insurance
The applicant must indemnify the county council against any incident arising that would not have occurred if the structure had not been erected. This indemnity must be a minimum of £10 million.
Approved contractors
Any excavation of the cultivation area should be undertaken by NRSWA accredited contractors who maintain public liability insurance of £10 million, and any damage caused to the highway shall be rectified to the satisfaction of the county council within seven days.
Notice of works
Following approval of the cultivation licence and temporary excavation road space licences (if required) – a minimum of seven days’ notice must be provided to the county council before the cultivation works can take place at the location.
Specification of cultivation areas and plants
The planting shall only be of a design and specification approved by the county council.
Location of cultivation area
No part of the planting shall be less than 0.5 metres from the kerb face or interfere with the visibility from nearby junctions and private driveways.
Scale plan of location for cultivation
A plan must be provided at a scale of 1:500 unless otherwise agreed by an authorised officer of the county council.
Maintenance and inspection of the planted area
That the area must be inspected regularly and maintained to a safe and acceptable standard by the licence holder. If repairs or modifications are required, the responsible party must complete the necessary work within 21 days of such notification. The licence holder must make sure that the cultivated area does not become a nuisance or hazard to any person or highway user.
Removal of planted area by highway authority
The plants may be removed at any time if required by the county council, as the Highway Authority. This will be at the applicant's expense.
Applicants should also be aware that utility companies may require access to the planted areas of public highway to install or maintain underground apparatus.
In these events no compensation will be made for cost of remedial to planted areas.
Application form
An application form can be requested by contacting us via email: ETDlicences@leics.gov.uk
The fee for this application is £280 which is an admin fee and therefore non-refundable. Payment must be paid via BACS before the approval of this application.