Highways Searches

Highways searches* highlight any potential access issues to a property. Whilst the standard local authority and land registry searches will show public highways and property boundaries, they don’t show any potential access problems. Our choice of three highways searches obtain information directly from local authorities.

LOCAL AUTHORITY HIGHWAYS ENQUIRY

Asks four questions of the Highways department of the relevant local authority:

Price dependent on local authority.

  • Can you confirm that the Property immediately abuts onto a publicly maintainable highway and there is no intervening land between the Property and the public highway (if there is, is it within the Property’s ownership and what is its status?)
  • Are there any road improvements or widening schemes in the area or any road closure orders affecting roads around the property?
  • Can you confirm that there are no public footpaths on or over the property?
  • Is there any information available regarding any future improvements or developments which may affect traffic flow around the land in question?

In addition, the search provides a plan from the local authority showing adopted roads and highways in the vicinity of the property and is backed by £2 million PlanVal’s Indemnity Insurance.

LOCAL AUTHORITY HIGHWAYS LITE

Provides the following information from the Highways Department of the relevant local authority:

  • A copy of the highway records showing which roads are maintained at public expense and which are not.
  • A copy of the plan showing the extent of the highways and adopted roads in relation to the property and the plan submitted to the authority.
  • Backed by £2 million PlanVal’s Indemnity Insurance.

Please note, although this search (Highways Lite) is available for both residential and commercial properties, it is designed primarily for residential transactions.

HIGHWAYS STANDARD WITH OPINION

Includes the same four questions and plan from the local authority as the Highways Enquiry, but offers a professional opinion from Groundsure.

    • Can you confirm that the Property immediately abuts onto a publicly maintainable highway and there is no intervening land between the Property and the public highway (if there is, is it within the Property’s ownership and what is its status?)
    • Are there any road improvements or widening schemes in the area or any road closure orders affecting roads around the property?
    • Can you confirm that there are no public footpaths on or over the property?
  • Is there any information available regarding any future improvements or developments which may affect traffic flow around the land in question?

The professional opinion is backed by £10m Professional Indemnity Insurance, designed to ensure accurate interpretation.

* Arranged by Severn Trent Searches, provided by PlanVal.

Please note that for all searches, answers are provided by the relevant County Council, City Council, Borough Council, Metropolitan Borough Council, Unitary Status Council, or The Corporation of London and content may vary accordingly.