- Latest available (Revised)
- Point in Time (13/03/2024)
- Original (As enacted)
Version Superseded: 05/04/2024
Point in time view as at 13/03/2024. This version of this provision has been superseded.
You are viewing this legislation item as it stood at a particular point in time. A later version of this or provision, including subsequent changes and effects, supersedes this version.
Note the term provision is used to describe a definable element in a piece of legislation that has legislative effect – such as a Part, Chapter or section.
New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, Section 51 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 23 December 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.
Changes and effects yet to be applied by the editorial team are only applicable when viewing the latest version or prospective version of legislation. They are therefore not accessible when viewing legislation as at a specific point in time. To view the ‘Changes to Legislation’ information for this provision return to the latest version view using the options provided in the ‘What Version’ box above.
(1)It is an offence for a person other than the street authority—
(a)to place apparatus in a street, or
(b)to break up or open a street, or a sewer, drain or tunnel under it, or to tunnel or bore under a street, for the purpose of placing, inspecting, maintaining, adjusting, repairing, altering or renewing apparatus, or of changing the position of apparatus or removing it,
otherwise than in pursuance of a statutory right or a street works licence.
(2)A person committing an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F1level 5] on the standard scale.
(3)This section does not apply to works for road purposes or to emergency works of any description.
(4)If a person commits an offence under this section, the street authority may—
(a)in the case of an offence under subsection (1)(a), direct him to remove the apparatus in respect of which the offence was committed, and
(b)in any case, direct him to take such steps as appear to them necessary to reinstate the street or any sewer, drain or tunnel under it.
If he fails to comply with the direction, the authority may remove the apparatus or, as the case may be, carry out the necessary works and recover from him the costs reasonably incurred by them in doing so.
Textual Amendments
F1Words in s. 51(2) 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 (9.1.2014) by The National Grid (King’s Lynn B Power Station Connection) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3200), arts. 1, 9(1)
C2Pt. 3 applied (with modifications) (9.1.2014) by The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Rapid Transit Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3244), arts. 1, 4(9) (with arts. 57, 58, Sch. 11 para. 19)
C3Pt. 3 modified (9.1.2014) by The Ashton Vale to Temple Meads and Bristol City Centre Rapid Transit Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3244), arts. 1, 4(1)(2) (with arts. 57, 58, Sch. 11 para. 19)
C4Pt. 3 modified (7.5.2014) by The National Grid (North London Reinforcement Project) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1052), arts. 1, 13(1)
C5Pt. 3 modified (9.2.2016) by The National Grid (Hinkley Point C Connection Project) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/49), arts. 1, 11(1) (with art. 32)
C6Pt. 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)
C7Pt. 3 modified (15.10.2020) by The Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing Development Consent Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1075), arts. 1, 11(1)(2)
C8Pt. 3 modified (29.10.2020) by The Southampton to London Pipeline Development Consent Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1099), arts. 1, 12(1)(2) (with art. 32, Sch. 9 para. 36)
C9Pt. 3 applied (2.12.2021) by The South Humber Bank Energy Centre Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1259), arts. 1, 10(3) (with Sch. 8 para. 48)
C10Pt. 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)
C11Pt. 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)
C12Pt. 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)
C13Pt. 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)
C14Pt. 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))
C15Pt. 3 modified (9.2.2024) by The A12 Chelmsford to A120 Widening Development Consent Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/60), arts. 1, 12(1)(2) (with arts. 4, 52, Sch. 11 paras. 6, 24, 39(1), 55(1), 84)
C16S. 51 modified (29.10.2020) by The Southampton to London Pipeline Development Consent Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1099), arts. 1, 11(5) (with art. 32, Sch. 9 para. 36)
C17S. 51(1) modified (9.1.2014) by The National Grid (King’s Lynn B Power Station Connection) Order 2013 (S.I. 2013/3200), arts. 1, 10(2)
C18S. 51(1) modified (7.5.2014) by The National Grid (North London Reinforcement Project) Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/1052), arts. 1, 9(2)
C19S. 51(1) modified (29.10.2014) by The Able Marine Energy Park Development Consent Order 2014 (S.I. 2014/2935), art. 15(2) (with arts. 30(4), 53)
C20S. 51(1) modified (9.2.2016) by The National Grid (Hinkley Point C Connection Project) Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/49), arts. 1, 10(2)(3) (with art. 32)
C21S. 51(1) modified (25.3.2016) by The Thorpe Marsh Gas Pipeline Order 2016 (S.I. 2016/297), arts. 1, 12(2) (with art. 39)
C22S. 51(1) modified (29.3.2017) by The Glyn Rhonwy Pumped Storage Generating Station Order 2017 (S.I. 2017/330), arts. 1, 10(2) (with art. 31)
C23S. 51(1) modified (12.10.2018) by The Eggborough Gas Fired Generating Station Order 2018 (S.I. 2018/1020), arts. 1, 8(2) (with arts. 6, 42)
C24S. 51(1) modified (10.10.2019) by The Abergelli Power Gas Fired Generating Station Order 2019 (S.I. 2019/1268), arts. 1, 9(2)
C25S. 51(1) modified (15.10.2020) by The Great Yarmouth Third River Crossing Development Consent Order 2020 (S.I. 2020/1075), arts. 1, 10(2)
C26S. 51(1) modified (2.12.2021) by The South Humber Bank Energy Centre Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/1259), arts. 1, 10(2) (with Sch. 8 para. 48)
C27S. 51(1) modified (13.7.2022) by The A47 Blofield to North Burlingham Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/738), arts. 1, 15(2) (with arts. 4, 50)
C28S. 51(1) modified (7.12.2022) by The A417 Missing Link Development Consent Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1248), arts. 1, 11(2) (with art. 4)
C29S. 51(1) modified (29.12.2022) by The Keadby 3 (Carbon Capture Equipped Gas Fired Generating Station) Order 2022 (S.I. 2022/1396), arts. 1, 9(2) (with art. 32, Sch. 10 paras. 26(2), 68)
C30S. 51(1) modified (10.3.2023) by The A47 Wansford to Sutton Development Consent Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/218), arts. 1, 15(2) (with arts. 4, 50)
C31S. 51(1) modified (18.7.2023) by The Longfield Solar Farm Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/734), arts. 1, 8(2)
C32S. 51(1) modified (27.7.2023) by The Boston Alternative Energy Facility Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/778), arts. 1, 10(2) (with arts. 5, 53, Sch. 8 paras. 6, 64)
C33S. 51(1) modified (3.8.2023) by The Hornsea Four Offshore Wind Farm Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/800), arts. 1, 8(2) (with arts. 42, 43, Sch. 9 Pt. 1 para. 4, Sch. 9 Pt. 3 para. 6(1), Sch. 9 Pt. 4 para. 20, Sch. 9 Pt. 9 para. 4)
C34S. 51(1) modified (7.9.2023) by The A38 Derby Junctions Development Consent Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/923), arts. 1, 11(2) (with arts. 4, 45, Sch. 9 paras. 6, 46, 54(1))
C35S. 51(1) modified (11.10.2023) by The Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1033), arts. 1, 9(2) (with arts. 36, 37, Sch. 9 paras. 14, 44(1), 76, 103)
C36S. 51(1) modified (7.2.2024) by The Drax Power Station Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Extension Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/70), arts. 1, 9(2) (with art. 43, Sch. 12 paras. 5, 24)
C37S. 51(1) modified (9.2.2024) by The A12 Chelmsford to A120 Widening Development Consent Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/60), arts. 1, 17(2) (with arts. 4, 52, Sch. 11 paras. 6, 24, 39(1), 55(1), 84)
C38S. 51(1) modified (11.3.2024) by The Net Zero Teesside Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/174), arts. 1, 11(2) (with arts. 42, 43, Sch. 12 paras. 5, 51, 91, 129, 136, 234, 345, 356)
C39S. 51(1) modified (13.3.2024) by The Medworth Energy from Waste Combined Heat and Power Facility Order 2024 (S.I. 2024/230), arts. 1, 10 (with Sch. 11 paras. 5, 22, 37, 47, 82, 110)
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download.
Would you like to continue?
The Whole Act you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
The Schedules you have selected contains over 200 provisions and might take some time to download. You may also experience some issues with your browser, such as an alert box that a script is taking a long time to run.
Would you like to continue?
Latest Available (revised):The latest available updated version of the legislation incorporating changes made by subsequent legislation and applied by our editorial team. Changes we have not yet applied to the text, can be found in the ‘Changes to Legislation’ area.
Original (As Enacted or Made): The original version of the legislation as it stood when it was enacted or made. No changes have been applied to the text.
Point in Time: This becomes available after navigating to view revised legislation as it stood at a certain point in time via Advanced Features > Show Timeline of Changes or via a point in time advanced search.
Geographical Extent: Indicates the geographical area that this provision applies to. For further information see ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.
Show Timeline of Changes: See how this legislation has or could change over time. Turning this feature on will show extra navigation options to go to these specific points in time. Return to the latest available version by using the controls above in the What Version box.
Access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item from this tab. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
This timeline shows the different points in time where a change occurred. The dates will coincide with the earliest date on which the change (e.g an insertion, a repeal or a substitution) that was applied came into force. The first date in the timeline will usually be the earliest date when the provision came into force. In some cases the first date is 01/02/1991 (or for Northern Ireland legislation 01/01/2006). This date is our basedate. No versions before this date are available. For further information see the Editorial Practice Guide and Glossary under Help.
Use this menu to access essential accompanying documents and information for this legislation item. Dependent on the legislation item being viewed this may include:
Click 'View More' or select 'More Resources' tab for additional information including: