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New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Section 79 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 15 August 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)An undertaker shall, except in such cases as may be prescribed, record the location of every item of apparatus belonging to him as soon as reasonably practicable after—
(a)placing it in the street or altering its position,
(b)locating it in the street in the course of executing any other works, or
(c)being informed of its location under section 80 below,
stating the nature of the apparatus and (if known) whether it is for the time being in use.
(2)The records shall be kept up to date and shall be kept in such form and manner as may be prescribed.
(3)An undertaker shall make his records available for inspection, at all reasonable hours and free of charge, by any person having authority to execute works of any description in the street or otherwise appearing to the undertaker to have a sufficient interest.
(4)If an undertaker fails to comply with his duties under this section—
(a)he commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1level 5] on the standard scale; and
(b)he is liable to compensate any person in respect of damage or loss incurred by him in consequence of the failure.
(5)In criminal or civil proceedings arising out of any such failure it is a defence for the undertaker to show that all reasonable care was taken by him, and by his contractors and by persons in his employ or that of his contractors, to secure that no such failure occurred.
(6)An order under section 102 (power to make consequential amendments, repeals, &c.) relating to an enactment or instrument containing provision for the keeping of records of apparatus which appears to the Secretary of State to be superseded by or otherwise inconsistent with the provisions of this section—
(a)shall not be subject to the procedure provided for in Schedule 5, and
(b)may make such transitional and other provision as appears to the Secretary of State appropriate for applying in relation to records compiled under that enactment or instrument the provisions of subsections (2) to (5) above and section 80 below.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 79(4) substituted (4.10.2004 for E., 26.11.2007 for W.) by Traffic Management Act 2004 (c. 18), ss. 40(1)(2), 99(1), Sch. 1; S.I. 2004/2380, art. 2(d)(i) (with art. 3); S.I. 2007/3174, art. 2, Sch. (with art. 4)
Modifications etc. (not altering text)
C1Pt. 3 modified (14.6.2024) by The A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/733), arts. 1, 11(2) (with art. 6, Sch. 10)
C2Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (9.4.2013) by The Hinkley Point C (Nuclear Generating Station) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/648), arts. 1, 9 (with arts. 48, 68, 79)
C3Pt. 3 restricted (6.8.2014) by The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1873), art. 1, Sch. 12 Pt. 2 para. 3 (with arts. 12, 13, Sch. 12 Pt. 1 paras. 6(3), 19, Pt. 2 paras. 3, 6, 13, Pt. 3 para. 5, Pt. 4 para. 4, Pt. 5 para. 4)
C4Pt. 3 modified (24.9.2014) by The Thames Water Utilities Limited (Thames Tideway Tunnel) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2384), arts. 1, 10(5), 11(4)
C5Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (2.8.2016) by The Midland Metro (Wolverhampton City Centre Extension) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/684), arts. 1, 5(1)(2) (with arts. 46, 47, Sch. 8 para. 2(7), Sch. 9 para. 4, Sch. 10 para. 12(2))
C6Pt. 3 modified (23.9.2016) by The M4 Motorway (Junctions 3 to 12) (Smart Motorway) Development Consent Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/863), arts. 1, 9(2)
C7Pt. 3 modified (29.3.2017) by The Glyn Rhonwy Pumped Storage Generating Station Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/330), arts. 1, 12(1) (with art. 31)
C8Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (27.2.2020) by The A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross Development Consent Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/121), arts. 1, 12(1)(2) (with art. 3(1))
C9Pt. 3 modified (11.6.2020) by The M42 Junction 6 Development Consent Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/528), arts. 1, 13(1)(2) (with art. 37)
C10Pt. 3 modified (9.2.2021) by The A1 Birtley to Coal House Development Consent Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/74), arts. 1, 10(1)(2) (with art. 5, Sch. 27 para. 36)
C11Pt. 3 modified (11.8.2022) by The Sizewell C (Nuclear Generating Station) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/853), arts. 1, 15(1) (with arts. 62, 76, 87)
Pt. 3 modified (2.9.2022) by The A47 North Tuddenham to Easton Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/911), arts. 1, 10(1)(2) (with arts. 4, 53)
C12Pt. 3 modified (7.12.2022) by The A57 Link Roads Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1206), arts. 1, 11(1)(2) (with art. 5)
C13Pt. 3 modified (7.12.2022) by The A417 Missing Link Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1248), arts. 1, 12(1)(2) (with art. 4)
C14Pt. 3 modified (10.3.2023) by The A47 Wansford to Sutton Development Consent Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/218), arts. 1, 11(1)(2) (with arts. 4, 50)
C15Pt. 3 modified (27.7.2023) by The Boston Alternative Energy Facility Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/778), arts. 1, 11(2) (with arts. 5, 53, Sch. 8 paras. 6, 64)
C16Pt. 3 modified (7.9.2023) by The A38 Derby Junctions Development Consent Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/923), arts. 1, 12(1)(2) (with arts. 4, 45, Sch. 9 paras. 6, 46, 54(1))
C17Ss. 54-106 applied (28.2.2013) by The Rookery South (Resource Recovery Facility) Order 2011 2013 (S.I. 2013/680), art. 10(3)
C18Ss. 54-106 applied (9.4.2013) by The Lancashire County Council (Torrisholme to the M6 Link (A683 Completion of Heysham to M6 Link Road)) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/675), arts. 1, 9(2)
C19Ss. 54-106 applied (15.6.2013) by The Galloper Wind Farm Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1203), arts. 1, 13(3) (with arts. 11, 12)
C20Ss. 54-106 applied (15.8.2013) by The North Blyth Biomass Power Station Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/1873), arts. 1, 9(3) (with art. 30)
C21Ss. 54-106 applied (7.7.2014) by The East Anglia ONE Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1599), arts. 1, 8(3) (with arts. 37, 38, Sch. 9 para. 19)
C22Ss. 54-106 applied (6.8.2014) by The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1873), arts. 1, 15(3) (with arts. 7(6), 12, 13, Sch. 12 Pt. 1 para. 19, Sch. 12 Pt. 2 para. 6, sch. 12 Pt. 3 para. 5, Sch. 12 Pt. 4 para. 4, Sch. 12 Pt. 5 para. 4)
C23Ss. 54-106 applied (24.9.2014) by The Thames Water Utilities Limited (Thames Tideway Tunnel) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2384), arts. 1, 10(4), 11(5) (with arts. 55, 56)
C24Ss. 54-106 applied (2.10.2014) by The North Killingholme (Generating Station) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2434), arts. 1, 9(3) (with arts. 6, 9(4), 13, Sch. 8 Pt. 1 para. 6, Sch. 8 Pt. 3 paras. 4(3), 6, 17, Sch. 8 Pt. 5 para. 9)
C25Ss. 54-106 applied (29.10.2014) by The Able Marine Energy Park Development Consent Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2935), art. 15(3) (with arts. 30(4), 53)
C26Ss. 54-106 applied (28.11.2014) by The Walney Extension Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2950), arts. 1, 10(3) (with arts. 38, 39)
C27Ss. 54-106 applied (7.1.2015) by The Willington C Gas Pipeline Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/3328), arts. 1, 10(3)
C28Ss. 54-106 applied (2.2.2015) by The Northumberland County Council (A1 – South East Northumberland Link Road (Morpeth Northern Bypass)) Development Consent Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/23), arts. 1, 9(2)
C29Ss. 54-106 applied (26.2.2015) by The Cornwall Council (A30 Temple to Higher Carblake Improvement) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/147), arts. 1, 9(3)
C30Ss. 54-106 applied (11.3.2015) by The Dogger Bank Creyke Beck Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/318), arts. 1, 13(3) (with arts. 8(5), 35, 40, 41, Sch. 12 Pt. 1 paras. 4, 9(2), 10, Pt. 2 paras. 4(2)(3), 19, Pt. 4 paras. 3, 4, 16)
C31Ss. 54-106 applied (1.4.2015) by The Knottingley Power Plant Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/680), arts. 1, 10(3) (with art. 7(6), Sch. 8 para. 10)
C32Ss. 54-106 applied (23.6.2015) by The Norfolk County Council (Norwich Northern Distributor Road (A1067 to A47(T))) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1347), arts. 1, 9(2)
C33Ss. 54-106 applied (30.6.2015) by The Swansea Bay Tidal Generating Station Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1386), arts. 1, 9(3) (with arts. 51, 53)
C34Ss. 54-106 applied (7.8.2015) by The Preesall Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1561), arts. 1, 9(3) (with art. 44)
C35Ss. 54-106 applied (14.8.2015) by The Progress Power (Gas Fired Power Station) Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1570), arts. 1, 10(3)
C36Ss. 54-106 applied (26.8.2015) by The Dogger Bank Teesside A and B Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1592), arts. 1, 14(3) (with arts. 35, 40, 41)
C37Ss. 54-106 applied (19.11.2015) by The Ferrybridge Multifuel 2 Power Station Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1832), arts. 1(2), 9(3)
C38Ss. 54-106 applied (30.12.2015) by The Port Talbot Steelworks Generating Station Order 2015 (S.I. 2015/1984), arts. 1, 9(3) (with art. 26)
C39Ss. 54-106 applied (with modifications) (25.3.2016) by The Thorpe Marsh Gas Pipeline Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/297), arts. 1, 12(3) (with art. 39)
C40Ss. 54-106 applied (2.8.2016) by The Meaford Gas Fired Generating Station Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/779), arts. 1, 11(3)
C41Ss. 54-106 applied (10.8.2016) by The York Potash Harbour Facilities Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/772), arts. 1, 10(3) (with arts. 35, 36)
C42Ss. 54-106 applied (19.8.2016) by The North Wales Wind Farms Connection Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/818), arts. 1, 10(5) (with art. 35)
C43Ss. 54-106 applied (with modifications) (15.9.2016) by The River Humber Gas Pipeline Replacement Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/853), arts. 1, 11(3) (with art. 43)
C44Ss. 54-106 applied (23.9.2016) by The M4 Motorway (Junctions 3 to 12) (Smart Motorway) Development Consent Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/863), arts. 1, 11(3)
C45Ss. 54-106 applied (27.9.2016) by The Triton Knoll Electrical System Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/880), arts. 1(2), 8(3) (with arts. 39, 40, Sch. 8 para. 19)
C46Ss. 54-106 applied (18.3.2017) by The North London Heat and Power Generating Station Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/215), arts. 1, 10(3)
C47Ss. 54-106 applied (29.3.2017) by The Glyn Rhonwy Pumped Storage Generating Station Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/330), arts. 1, 10(3) (with art. 31)
C48Ss. 54-106 applied (5.4.2017) by The Keuper Underground Gas Storage Facility Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/433), arts. 1, 10(4)
C49Ss. 54-106 applied (8.8.2017) by The Wrexham Gas Fired Generating Station Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/766), arts. 1, 10(3)
C50Ss. 54-106 applied (29.8.2017) by The East Anglia THREE Offshore Wind Farm Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/826), arts. 1, 8(3) (with arts. 5(9), 36, 37, Sch. 8 para. 34)
C51Ss. 54-106 applied (12.10.2018) by The Eggborough Gas Fired Generating Station Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1020), arts. 1, 8(3) (with arts. 6, 42)
C52Ss. 54-106 applied (3.4.2019) by The Millbrook Gas Fired Generating Station Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/578), arts. 1, 9(3)
C53Ss. 54-106 applied (10.10.2019) by The Abergelli Power Gas Fired Generating Station Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1268), arts. 1, 9(3)
C54Ss. 54-106 applied (25.10.2019) by The Drax Power (Generating Stations) Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1315), arts. 1, 9(3)
C55Ss. 54-106 applied (27.2.2020) by The A30 Chiverton to Carland Cross Development Consent Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/121), arts. 1, 11(3) (with art. 3(1))
C56Ss. 54-106 applied (14.4.2020) by The Reinforcement to the North Shropshire Electricity Distribution Network Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/325), arts. 1, 10(4) (with art. 7)
C57Ss. 54-106 applied (1.5.2020) by The Riverside Energy Park Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/419), arts. 1, 11(3) (with art. 7)
C58Ss. 54-106 applied (11.6.2020) by The M42 Junction 6 Development Consent Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/528), arts. 1, 12(3) (with art. 37)
C59Ss. 54-106 applied (1.9.2020) by The Immingham Open Cycle Gas Turbine Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/847), arts. 1, 9(3) (with Sch. 9 para. 144)
C60Ss. 54-106 applied (9.2.2021) by The A1 Birtley to Coal House Development Consent Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/74), arts. 1, 12(3) (with art. 5, Sch. 27 para. 36)
C61Ss. 54-106 applied (22.12.2021) by The Morlais Demonstration Zone Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1478), arts. 1, 7, Sch. 10 para. 2 (with arts. 15, 50, Sch. 11 para. 29)
C62Ss. 54-106 applied (10.3.2022) by The Thurrock Flexible Generation Plant Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/157), arts. 1, 11(3) (with Sch. 8 Pt. 6 para. 19)
C63Ss. 54-106 applied (11.8.2022) by The Sizewell C (Nuclear Generating Station) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/853), arts. 1, 14(4) (with arts. 15, 62, 76, 87)
C64Ss. 54-106 applied (2.9.2022) by The A47 North Tuddenham to Easton Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/911), arts. 1, 14(3) (with arts. 4, 53)
C65Ss. 54-106 applied (with modifications) (4.11.2022) by The A47/A11 Thickthorn Junction Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1070), arts. 1, 15(3) (with arts. 4, 52, Sch. 9 para. 82)
C66Ss. 54-106 applied (7.12.2022) by The A57 Link Roads Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1206), arts. 1, 10(3) (with arts. 5, 11)
C67Ss. 54-106 applied (7.12.2022) by The A417 Missing Link Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1248), arts. 1, 11(3) (with arts. 4, 12)
C68Ss. 54-106 applied (29.12.2022) by The Keadby 3 (Carbon Capture Equipped Gas Fired Generating Station) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1396), arts. 1, 9(3) (with art. 32, Sch. 10 paras. 26(2), 68)
C69Ss. 54-106 applied (10.3.2023) by The A47 Wansford to Sutton Development Consent Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/218), arts. 1, 15(3) (with arts. 4, 50)
C70Ss. 54-106 applied (18.7.2023) by The Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/734), arts. 1, 8(3)
C71Ss. 54-106 applied (27.7.2023) by The Boston Alternative Energy Facility Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/778), arts. 1, 10(3) (with arts. 5, 53, Sch. 8 paras. 6, 64)
C72Ss. 54-106 applied (7.9.2023) by The A38 Derby Junctions Development Consent Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/923), arts. 1, 11(3) (with arts. 4, 45, Sch. 9 paras. 6, 46, 54(1))
C73Ss. 54-106 applied (7.2.2024) by The Drax Power Station Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Extension Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/70), arts. 1, 9(3) (with art. 43, Sch. 12 paras. 5, 24)
C74Ss. 54-106 applied (11.3.2024) by The Net Zero Teesside Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/174), arts. 1, 11(3) (with arts. 42, 43, Sch. 12 paras. 5, 51, 91, 129, 136, 234, 345, 356)
C75Ss. 54-106 applied (13.3.2024) by The Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heatnd Power Facility Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/230), arts. 1, 10 (with Sch. 11 paras. 5, 22, 37, 47, 82, 110)
C76Ss. 54-106 applied (14.6.2024) by The A1 in Northumberland: Morpeth to Ellingham Development Consent Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/733), arts. 1, 13(3) (with art. 6, Sch. 10)
C77Ss. 54-106 applied (3.8.2024) by The Mallard Pass Solar Farm Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/796), arts. 1, 8(3) (with Sch. 15)
C78Ss. 54-106 applied (3.8.2024) by The Gate Burton Energy Park Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/807), arts. 1, 8(3) (with art. 45, Sch. 14)
C79Ss. 54-106 applied (3.8.2024) by The Sunnica Energy Farm Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/802), arts. 1, 8(4) (with art. 44, Sch. 12)
C80S. 79(1) excluded (E.) (1.5.2003) by The Street Works (Records) (England) Regulations 2002 (S.I. 2002/3217), regs. 1(1), 5
C81S. 79(1) restricted (W.) (1.12.2005) by Street Works (Records) (Wales) Regulations 2005 (S.I. 2005/1812), regs. 1(1), 5
Commencement Information
I1S. 79 partly in force; s. 79 not in force at Royal Assent, see s. 170
S. 79(1)(a)(b)(2)-(6) in force for E. at 1.5.2003 by S.I. 2002/3267, art. 2
I2S. 79(1)(a)(b)(2)-(6) in force for W. at 23.7.2004 by S.I. 2004/1780, art. 2
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