Adopted roads

Road adoption

We provide and maintain information on the status of all roads in Enfield, and work with developers to ensure that relevant new roads are built to an appropriate standard so that the council can 'adopt' them and maintain them at public expense.  We also consider requests for existing private streets to be adopted by the council in line with the relevant legislation.

A new road will be considered for adoption, provided that it meets our design standards and the developer enters into a suitable legal agreement with us (s38 Highways Act 1980).

There are several roads in Enfield that we do not maintain; this is usually because they do not meet our minimum standards of design and/ or construction. In some circumstances, we can adopt such roads if they are first made up to the required standard. The cost of bringing the road up to the required standard would be determined by the council and apportioned to the properties abutting the road.  Disputes about the allocation of costs usually need to be determined by the Magistrates Court.

A register of publicly-maintained (adopted) roads can be inspected at the Civic Centre (Environment Direct) between 8.30am and 5pm, from Monday to Friday.

To request an extract from our GIS map records
Write to Traffic and Transportation Service and enclose a cheque for the set fee (currently £21.40).

Written requests for information about the status of a road will usually be answered within 10 days.

Plans to shown the extent of the adopted highway will usually be sent within 10 days after receipt of payment.