brookwood-hospital-roadsoct08table.pdf

The file above gives a table of road by road information. The situation is complicated. This was correct to the best of my knowledge in October 2008.  

Road Adoption

Surrey County Council (SCC) look after roads that are part of the public highway. New roads become part of the highway when they are ‘adopted’. Surrey County Council is in principle willing to adopt new residential roads, including the roads on the Brookwood Hospital Estate, but only do this so long as the roads are up to standard. The SCC website says:  

 “New roads that have been constructed in accordance with the County Council’s guidelines are normally adopted by way of an agreement between the developer and the County Council under section 38 of the [Highways] Act 1980. Existing roads will not normally be adopted unless they are brought up to current standards by the owners of the road.”

 Sewer adoption

Currently under The Water Industry Act, Section 104 a Water Authority undertaker allows developers to enter into a sewer adoption agreement, but as with road adoption this requires the sewers to meet specific criteria. SCC’s road adoption agreements expect the sewers to be adopted before the roads are adopted. 

 How it should happen:  

1. An Adoption Agreement is drawn up between the Developer and Surrey County Council.  There is often a ‘Builders Bond’ to back the agreement.  

2        The road adoption agreement with Surrey requires the builder to make sure that the drainage, in particular sewage, is up to standard and has been ‘adopted’ by the Water Company before SCC adopts the road. In the case of the Hospital Estate this is Thames Water. (TW)  

3.  SCC inspects the road, and specifies any remedial work needed. 

4.     The Developer carries out the work needed. 

5.     SCC re-inspects the road and confirms it is up to standard. 

6. Adoption agreement certificates are issued, completing the adoption.

     What has actually happened: 

Redding Way and Percheron Drive have been adopted. (But see table above.) Adoption of some roads was held up at stage 2. (ie sewer adoption) Even if stages 3 and 4 went through satisfactorily, the delay meant they had to be repeated.  Meanwhile the companies that are the Developers have changed. Fairclough are now Miller Homes (MH). Taylor Woodrow and Wimpey are now Taylor Wimpey (TaW)It is possible that names have changed without SCC being informed. 

What the terms used in this summary mean: 

‘Road Adoption’ - The road becomes part of the highway and Surrey County Council (SCC)  is responsible for maintaining it.

‘Sewer Adoption’ -Currently under The Water Industry Act, Section 104 a Water Authority undertaker allows developers to enter into a sewer adoption agreement, but as with road adoption this requires the sewers to meet specific criteria.

 SCC’s road adoption agreements expect the sewers to be adopted before the roads are adopted. 

‘Builders Bond’ Where there is an adoption agreement there is often a ‘builders bond’ which guarantees a sum of money that can be used if the builder defaults on the agreement. Calling in a bond would be regarded by SCC as an extreme measure, because it would cost a lot in terms of administration, with the risk that the bond would not cover all the expense. SCC will only call the bond in if the state of the road causes danger or significant problems for the general public.