Access to property
Development control of roads
As people develop areas for housing, commerce or industry, we need to make sure that their plans include appropriate development of access roads.
If you are considering a development that needs new access roads, you need to apply for construction consent. We consider each application on its merits.
In general, you will need to provide a road for three or more individual dwellings. You will need to apply for construction consent and a roads bond.
If there are only two dwellings, and their access is along a private access over which there is no public right of passage, you will not need construction consent. We will not consider the access road for adoption.
If your development is on a brownfield or gap site, the same applies for up to five dwellings.
What is construction consent?
If you are building a new road that is not an access road as already described, or extending an existing one, the law says you have to get construction consent from your roads authority. For you, this is East Renfrewshire Council. This consent is to make sure you build your road to meet the necessary standards.
Small developments needing access
If you are intending to build an individual house, garage or extension, you need to think about creating or altering an driveways or access roads.
It is important that, before you start work, we must have granted you construction consent. This is in addition to any planning consent you may need.
When assessing your application for this type of small development, we consider:
1. Access to the site including:
- Where it is in relation to other roads and property
- Visibility around the access road
- Turning facilities for vehicles
- Available parking
- Driveway length
- Surface water and drainage.
2. Creating a footway crossover, for which you will also need permission. Read our service guide on road permits and permissions.
3. Re-locating of lighting columns.
4. How it affects pedestrians.
Larger developments needing access
If you are planning a larger development for housing, commerce or industry, you also need to pay close attention to access roads.
Before building any new road, you must get both detailed planning consent and construction consent. Remember that if you get one type of consent, this does not imply that you will get the other. More detailed rules apply to access roads for larger developments. Our publication “Guidelines for development roads” will give you more information.
We need these guidelines:
- To make sure new development roads meet the standards of planned and construction necessary for adoption by the local roads authority.
- To minimise the risk of future accidents, provide an acceptable environment, and reduce the future maintenance liability of the local roads authority.