The Street Works (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Order)

This Order makes new provision to facilitate the co-ordination and control of street works in Northern Ireland and to make statutory undertakers and other undertakers of works more accountable for their street works.

In particular, the Order makes it an offence to place apparatus in or break-up a street unless a person has a statutory right or a street works licence (Articles 11 and 12). The Department is required to establish a street works register to facilitate the co-ordination of street works and the service of notices (Article 13). There is provision also for restricting the execution of street works in a street for 12 months following the completion of substantial road works in the street (Article 18); for certain categories of street to be subject to special controls (Articles 21 to 24); requiring undertakers of works to adopt appropriate safety standards (Article 25); requiring the employment of properly qualified supervisors and operatives (Article 27; placing full responsibility upon undertakers for reinstating streets after completion of works (Article 30) and thereafter for maintaining apparatus in a street (Article 41); for charging undertakers for their occupation of a road where their works are unreasonably prolonged (Article 34), and requiring undertakers to provide compensation for damage or loss caused as a result of their street works (Article 42).