Section 278 Highway Agreements in the City of London
The City of London presents one of the UK's most technically demanding environments for highway improvement works. With its historic streets, high pedestrian volumes, major public transport interchanges, and internationally significant commercial developments, any alterations to the public highway require careful planning and close collaboration with the relevant highway authority. Section 278 Agreements enable developers to deliver works on existing public highways that are necessary to support new developments while ensuring safety, accessibility, and network efficiency.
At Capital Transport Planning, we assist clients throughout the entire Section 278 process for developments within the City of London. Our team prepares highway designs, technical drawings, swept path assessments, visibility reviews, and supporting documentation required for approval. Whether a project involves creating new vehicle access, modifying footways, relocating street furniture, introducing loading facilities, or improving pedestrian infrastructure, we ensure every proposal complies with applicable highway standards and planning requirements. By coordinating with designers, project teams, and local authorities from an early stage, we help minimise delays and support a smoother route from planning approval through to construction.
Section 278 in City of London
Highway Design & Technical Drawings
We prepare detailed highway designs and engineering drawings that satisfy technical standards while supporting planning conditions and highway authority approvals.
Vehicle Access & Junction Improvements
Our specialists design new access arrangements, junction alterations, kerb realignments, and carriageway modifications that improve safety and accommodate development traffic.
Pedestrian & Public Realm Enhancements
We develop highway improvement proposals that enhance pedestrian movement, accessibility, crossing facilities, paving layouts, and streetscape quality within busy urban environments.
Technical Approval & Authority Coordination
We manage communication with the highway authority, responding to technical comments and ensuring supporting documentation progresses efficiently through the approval process.
Swept Path & Vehicle Manoeuvring Analysis
Using specialist modelling software, we demonstrate that servicing vehicles, refuse trucks, emergency vehicles, and other authorised traffic can safely access and exit the site.
Construction Access & Highway Integration
We help integrate development proposals with the existing highway network by designing practical construction access arrangements and permanent highway improvements that minimise disruption.
Our Section 278 Project in the City of London
Our team recently supported a commercial redevelopment within the City of London that required a Section 278 Agreement to deliver improvements to the surrounding public highway. The proposal included alterations to the footway, upgraded pedestrian access, revised servicing arrangements, and modifications to the kerb alignment to improve operational efficiency.
Working closely with the wider design team, we prepared detailed highway drawings, vehicle tracking assessments, and supporting technical documentation required for approval. Given the constrained city-centre location, particular attention was paid to maintaining pedestrian safety, coordinating servicing operations, and ensuring the proposed highway layout complemented the existing transport network.
Throughout the project, we responded to technical review comments and refined the highway design to meet authority requirements. By providing a coordinated and policy-compliant solution, the Section 278 process progressed efficiently, allowing the development team to move confidently towards implementation while maintaining compliance with highway standards.
Delivering Efficient Highway Approval for Development
A professionally prepared Section 278 package provides confidence that highway improvements have been designed to appropriate engineering standards while meeting the expectations of the relevant highway authority. Early technical input helps identify potential design constraints before they affect project timescales, reducing the likelihood of costly revisions later in the planning or construction process.
At Capital Transport Planning, we combine transport planning expertise with practical highway design experience to produce coordinated, technically robust Section 278 submissions. We work proactively with architects, civil engineers, developers, and planning consultants to deliver practical highway solutions that integrate safely with the existing road network. From the initial feasibility stage through technical approval and detailed design, our objective is to help clients secure approvals efficiently while supporting successful project delivery.