Highways Act 1980

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Highways Act 1980, Section 1 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 18 November 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

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1 Highway authorities: general provision.E+W

(1)The Minister is[F1, subject to subsection (1A),] the highway authority for—

(a)any highway which is a trunk road;

F2 [( aa )any special road provided by him;]

(b)any highway as respects which an order made by him under any enactment expressly provides that he is to be the highway authority for it but does not direct that the highway is to be a trunk road;

(c)any highway (not falling within paragraph (a) above) transferred to him by an order under section 14 or 18 below;

(d)any other highway being a highway constructed by him, except where by virtue of section 2, 4(3) or 5(2) below or by virtue of some other enactment a local highway authority are the highway authority for it or where by means of an order made under section 14 or 18 below the highway is transferred to a local highway authority.

[F3(e)any highway for which he becomes the highway authority by virtue of section 2 of the Infrastructure Act 2015.]

[F4(1A)A strategic highways company is the highway authority for—

(a)any highway specified in the appointment of the company in accordance with Part 1 of the Infrastructure Act 2015;

(b)any highway that is directed to become a trunk road and for which that company is directed to be highway authority under section 10;

(c)any special road provided by the company;

(d)any highway for which an order made under any enactment expressly provides for that company to be the highway authority;

(e)any highway transferred to the company by an order under section 14 or 18;

(f)any other highway constructed by the company except where—

(i)by virtue of section 4(3) or 5(2) or some other enactment, a local highway authority is the highway authority for it; or

(ii)by means of an order under section 14 or 18 the highway is transferred to a local highway authority.

Paragraphs (a), (b) and (f) do not apply where a local highway authority becomes the highway authority by virtue of section 2.]

(2)Outside Greater London the council of a county [F5or metropolitan district] are the highway authority for all highways in the county [F5or, as the case may be, the district], whether or not maintainable at the public expense, which are not highways for which under subsection (1)[F6or (1A) ] above the Minister[F7or a strategic highways company] is the highway authority.

[F8(2A) Transport for London is the highway authority for all GLA roads. ]

(3)[F9The council] of a London borough or the Common Council are the highway authority for all highways in the borough or, as the case may be, in the City, whether or not maintainable at the public expense, which are not [F10for the time being GLA roads or]. . . F11 highways for which under subsection (1)[F12or (1A)] above the Minister[F13or a strategic highways company] is the highway authority.

[F14(3A)In Wales the council of a county or county borough are the highway authority for all highways in the county or, as the case may be, the county borough, whether or not maintainable at the public expense, which are not highways for which the Minister is the highway authority under subsection (1) above.]

(4)Subsection (2) above is subject, as respects any highway outside Greater London for which the Minister[F13or a strategic highways company] is not the highway authority under subsection (1)[F12or (1A)] above, to any provision of this Act, or of any order made under this or any other Act, by virtue of which a council other than the council of the county [F15or, as the case may be, the metropolitan district] in which the highway is situated are the highway authority therefor.

[F16(5)Subsection (3A) above is subject to any provision of this Act, or of any order made under this or any other Act, by virtue of which a council other than the Welsh council for the area in which the highway is situated are the highway authority.]

Textual Amendments

F1Words in s. 1(1) inserted (5.3.2015) by Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), s. 57(1), Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(a); S.I. 2015/481, reg. 2(a)

F2S. 1(1)(aa) inserted (01.11.1991) by New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (c. 22, SIF 59, 108), s. 21(2); S.I. 1991/2288, art. 3, Sch.

F3S. 1(1)(e) inserted (5.3.2015) by Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), s. 57(1), Sch. 1 para. 2(2)(b); S.I. 2015/481, reg. 2(a)

F4S. 1(1A) inserted (5.3.2015) by Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), s. 57(1), Sch. 1 para. 2(3); S.I. 2015/481, reg. 2(a)

F5Words in s. 1(2) inserted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 8, Sch. 4 para. 1(a)

F6Words in s. 1(2) inserted (5.3.2015) by Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), s. 57(1), Sch. 1 para. 2(4)(a); S.I. 2015/481, reg. 2(a)

F7Words in s. 1(2) inserted (5.3.2015) by Infrastructure Act 2015 (c. 7), s. 57(1), Sch. 1 para. 2(4)(b); S.I. 2015/481, reg. 2(a)

F8S. 1(2A) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, s. 259(2), (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F9Words in s. 1(3) substituted by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 8, Sch. 4 Pt. I, para. 1(b)

F10Words in s. 1(3) inserted (3.7.2000) by 1999 c. 29, ss. 259(3) (with Sch. 12 para. 9(1)); S.I. 2000/801, art. 2(2)(c), Sch. Pt. 3

F11Words in s. 1(3) repealed by Local Government Act 1985 (c. 51, SIF 81:1), s. 102, Sch. 17