Photographic highway condition survey
If you have received planning permission for your development, you may need to do a photographic highway condition survey as part of a pre-commencement condition for your planning approval. It involves taking photo(s) to show existing damages or defects on the public road within 20 metres of your site's entrance points before starting work. This public road can include:
- footpaths
- cycle ways
- pedestrian areas
- verges (roadside grass).
Why this is needed
The survey is necessary to document any current issues with the footpaths or roads. If construction leads to any damage not noted in the survey, it must be fixed quickly to ensure the safety of all road users.
What is needed in the survey
You will need to provide:
- your planning application reference
- the construction start date
- survey date
- site location
- photos of existing damages in the area.
View an example of a photographic highway condition survey (PDF, 461KB)
What happens to the survey
You’ll need to submit the survey to the planning authority to meet the condition. It will be uploaded to the planning portal, along with other documents from your planning application. If needed, our highways inspectors, who do regular highway condition reviews, and follow up on reports of damage and defects, will do an inspection.
What if I notice damage to the road and footpaths
You can report any damage via our reporting system.
How can damage be repaired
Any damage caused by construction activities, which is not included in the photographic highway condition survey, will need to be repaired. This may be done by a contractor appointed by the developer, property owner or person(s) responsible for the damage subject to agreement by us via our reporting system.
Who would pay for the repair
If our contractors carry out the repairs, the costs will be covered by the developer, property owner, or anyone responsible for the damage. This is in line with Sections 59 and 131 of the Highways Act 1980, which allows the Highway Authority to recover repair costs for damage to the public road.
What if damage during construction causes an urgent safety risk
If any damage occurs whilst works are happening which could cause an urgent safety risk to pedestrians and road users, the developer, contractor, or property owner must report this via our reporting system.
What type of damage can this be
Damage can include:
- cracking and potholes on the highway from heavy construction vehicles
- cracked pavement from material deliveries
- damaged roadside grass
- damaged traffic signs
- damaged street furniture, for example, chairs
- harm caused by machinery or vehicles crossing or parking on the footpath.
The following photos show examples of damages at development entrance points across Kent.
An image of road and footpath at site entrance showing some damage.
An image of a slab-paved footpath showing some damage.
An image of a badly damaged asphalt footpath.
An image of a badly damaged footpath and roadside grass.
An image of a badly damaged asphalt footpath at site entrance.
An image of a block-paved footpath adjacent to site showing some damage.
An image of a road and grassy roadside at site entrance showing some damage.