Adopted roads and highways

Private streets (unadopted highways) are maintained at the owner's expense. The owner may be the residents who each own the part in front of their house, or a third party (usually a developer). The council is under no obligation to carry out repairs or maintenance to the street, even though it could be a public right of way to which highway and traffic law can be applied.

When we adopt roads

New roads that have been built to the required standards are normally adopted by us through an agreement with the developer under Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980.

Existing roads will not normally be adopted unless they are brought up to the required standards by the owners of the road at their cost. It may for example, be unpaved, without kerbs, footways, surface water sewers, gullies, lighting, the surface in bad condition or possibly that the geometry of the road may be unsuitable for use as a highway maintained by public expense.

The Highway Management team is responsible for the adoption of roads and maintaining the adopted highway records.

Find out whether a road is adopted

We have a free to use online viewer of the adopted highway network of Swansea County. It also includes current road agreements and proposed cycle/road/traffic schemes.

Online adopted highway viewer (opens new window) - view the adopted highway extents, road agreements and schemes.

Online street listing (opens new window) - view the list of streets maintainable at public expense.

Highway Search FAQs - a useful information resource for informal enquiries and professional searches.

Enquiries on roads covered by a section 38 agreement must be directed to the developer of the road.

Commercial/professional enquiries

If you require a prepared plan from the council, a fee of £42.54 is required. You can apply online at the Local Land Charges website.