Licences are required for any display that may protrude/project over a public highway.

A highway projection licence is also required for:

  • Building on the highway. For example, a disabled access ramp at the entrance to a property.
  • Building work that project over the highway. For example, shop signage or construction of a balcony.

A crane that over sails the highway is not a highway projection. Please contact the Traffic Management Team to discuss.

Traffic Management Team

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Eligibility criteria

The maximum depth that the display can protrude over the public footway is 1.05 metres, subject to 2.10 metres clear passageway between the edge of the display and the road (or any intervening pavement furniture such as a bollard or telephone box).

The Council reserves the right, in exceptional circumstances, to allow a greater depth of display where the pavement is very wide, or a smaller depth of display where pedestrian footfall is very high.

All goods or equipment on display under the terms of the licence shall be kept within the area specified.

A minimum vertical clearance of 2.75 metres is required from the surface of the footway to the underside of any projection, this is to allow for the safe passage of pedestrians beneath projections of frontage development - such as canopies, blinds, CCTV equipment. The Council may alter this vertical clearance in exceptional cases.

Traffic Management Team

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Apply for a highways projection licence

Apply online

Application to place a structure projecting over or under the highway [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/licenses-and-consents-for-structures-over-along-and-under-the-highway/coventry/apply-1].

Traffic Management Team

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Application process

Please be aware that although we can accept your application online it would be helpful to ring the Traffic Management Team and talk through what is required because the situation can be quite complex. A site visit will be required to assess whether it is safe to have an object projecting over/along or under the highway in a particular location.

How long will it take to process my application?

The Council will process a Highway Projection Licence request within a maximum of 90 calendar days.

Does tacit consent apply?

No. It is in the public interest that we must process your application before it can be granted. If you have not heard from us within a reasonable period, please contact us on the details below.

Submission of a form and payment does NOT mean permission has been granted and no structure may be put over/along or under the highway without a licence being granted first.

Traffic Management Team

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Charges

The cost of the licence will depend upon the nature of the object to be projected over or under the highway, there is a minimum fee of £120 for this licence.

Traffic Management Team

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Supplementary information

We require a site plan showing the position of the projection to be attached with any application.

Traffic Management Team

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Length of licence

This is dependent upon the 'item' being licensed. Contact us if you have any questions regarding the length of licence.

Traffic Management Team

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Change of circumstances

Make an application to change a structure projecting over or under the highway [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/licenses-and-consents-for-structures-over-along-and-under-the-highway/coventry/change-1].

Traffic Management Team

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR

Right of appeal

If your licence request is refused, Please contact the Traffic and Network Management.

Traffic Management Team

Address: PO Box 15
Council House
Earl Street
Coventry
CV1 5RR