Works Licences
Any persons undertaking work within or adjacent to the navigation area, with the potential to interfere with navigation, must hold a valid Works Licence. This forms part of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads Act 1988.
To obtain a works licence an application must be made as detailed below. Approved applications will be granted a Works Licence valid for 12 months from date of issue.
Guidance Documents
The following document provides very useful guidance and should be read by anyone intending to undertake work within the Broads river system.
This is a concise guide to the process of obtaining a Works Licence and subsequent actions required.
Guidance Notes for Conducting Works within the Navigation Area (pdf) [2670kb]
This document provides very useful guidance to anyone undertaking works within or adjacent to the navigation area of the Broads river system. It gives guidance on legislation requirements, identifies less obvious health and safety hazards and highlights other possible considerations.
Application Form
A Works Licence Application Form can be downloaded here. (pdf) [80kb]
Along with the application form the following supporting information must be provided to enable the proposal to be understood and assessed:
1. Location plan
2. Design details (relevant sections and plans describing the works)
3. Contractor details
4. Proposed plant and equipment
5. Method statement
6. Project timetable
For advice on Works Licences contact the Broads Authority Rivers Engineer, Tom Hunter, on 01603 756066.
Fees
From 1 April 2011, works licence applications will be categorised as ‘major’ or ‘minor’ and the following fees will apply:
Major Works Application = £80.00
Minor Works Application = £50.00
Retrospective Major Works Application = £155.00
Retrospective Minor Works Application = £125.00
The type of application, and therefore required fee, is to be defined as below:
a) Major Works Application
An application is considered to be a 'Major Application' if any of the following applies during or as a result of the proposed works:
(i) Obstruction to more than 50% of the width of the navigable channel
(ii) less than an 8 metre navigable width remains over a stretch of river greater than 5 metres in length
(iii) the works are within 50 metres of any works of any other statutory undertaker
(iv) the works are within 15 metres of any works of the British Railways Board
(v) a complete river closure is required
b) Minor Works Application
A Minor Application is required for any works on or adjacent to the navigation not classified as a Major Application.
c) Retrospective Works Applications
A retrospective application is required for any works on or adjacent to the navigation which have commenced or been completed without a valid Works Licence. The major or minor categorisation, as defined above, also applies to retrospective applications.
Further Requirements
Depending on the scale, nature and potential impacts of a project, other permissions/actions may be required in addition to obtaining a Works Licence. Below is a list of some additional requirements which you may need to consider.
• Notice to Mariners
• Planning Permission
• Environment Agency and Natural England Consents
• HSE Notification
• Internal Drainage Board Consent
This is not an exhaustive list, but does identify the more common requirements and consents.
