Road Construction Consent (RCC) as well as planning permission is needed from the local roads authority for a new road or an extension of an existing road which is to be adopted by the council.
It is an offence under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 to build a new road without valid consent.
Design standards
Roads constructed must meet the following design standards and procedures.
Accessibility
These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Please contact us to request an accessible format.
Applying for road construction consent
You must have planning permission in place for any development that includes roads before applying for Road Construction Consent (RCC). Applications should only be made once the detailed road layout has been agreed through the planning process.
Step 1 – Registering your application
The initial step is to complete the online Road Construction Consent application form. This gathers basic information so we can register your application. You will be asked to provide your planning approval reference number at this stage.
Once your application has been registered, you will receive a formal letter confirming your Road Construction Consent reference number and requesting submission of all required supporting information.
Step 2 – Submitting supporting information
All checklists, drawings and supporting documents must then be submitted electronically via the National Planning Portal, using the Post Submission Additional Documents form and quoting your allocated reference number.
We do not accept RCC applications or supporting documents by email.
Before applying, please read our guidance carefully and ensure that all information listed on the Stage 1 and, where applicable, Stage 2 checklists is provided. Incomplete submissions may delay the assessment of your application.
Depending on the type, scale and complexity of the development, a Road Construction Consent application may take several months to determine. Applicants should take this into account when programming the construction phase of their development.
Forms and checklists
Accessibility
These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology. Please contact us to request an accessible format.
Road Construction Inspection Charges
Under Section 140(6) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984, roads authorities can recover reasonable costs for inspecting works carried out under a road construction consent.
The inspection charges set out are based on the estimated cost of the road construction, as detailed in the table below. The developer will be invoiced as soon as the Road Construction Consent (RCC) is granted, and payment must be made before any inspections are carried out.
If inspections are not arranged, the developer will be proceeding at their own risk. In such cases, we may require intrusive investigations to confirm that the road and associated infrastructure have been constructed in accordance with the approved RCC plans.
| Estimated Road Construction Cost | Inspection Charge per £1,000 of Road Construction Cost |
|---|---|
| Up to £5,000 | £58.70 |
| £5,001 to £20,000 | £53.71 |
| £20,001 to £100,000 | £47.46 |
| Over £100,000 | £34.97 |
You will also need to apply for planning permission.
