Agenda item

Hybrid application to include full planning permission for sound stages, workshops, post production facility and extension to the studio tour car park, together with outline planning permission for extension to the studio tour, workshops, production support building, studio parking deck, studio cafe extension, studio support facilities and associated works.

 

(Duplicate application to Three Rivers District Council)

The Committee received the report of the Development Management Section Head, including the relevant planning history of the site. 

 

The Development Management Team Leader introduced the item, explaining that the application straddled the boundary with Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council.  Approximately 90% of the site lay within Three Rivers District Council.  Warner Bros. Studios was proposing a significant expansion of its film studios as well as the Harry Potter tour.  It was a hybrid application, containing both detailed and outline elements and had been submitted in duplicate to Three Rivers District Council and Watford Borough Council.

 

Three Rivers District Council had considered its application on 10 December 2015 and resolved to grant planning permission.  Since some of the proposed development was within the green belt, the application had been referred to the Secretary of State.  It had been confirmed since that the Secretary of State did not wish to call-in the application and Three Rivers District Council was therefore free to grant planning permission.  This would be undertaken shortly, subject to the completion of a new section 106 agreement.

 

Only two areas of the site fell within Watford Borough Council and therefore needed to be considered by Watford Borough Council.

 

A number of amendments to the conditions had been set out in the update sheet, which had been circulated to the Committee.

 

The Chair invited Dan Dark, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, to speak to the Committee in support of the proposed development. 

 

Mr Dark outlined his long involvement in both the film studios at Leavesden and in the local and wider town community.  Since 2010 and the entrance of Warner Bros, some £150 million had been invested in the studios, which now supported around 1,300 jobs in the Watford Borough Council and Three Rivers District Council areas.  It was a significant contributor to the local economy.

 

The Warner Bros Studios had endeavoured to be a good neighbour to the local residents, but it was acknowledged that the success of the film studios impacted on them.  Traffic was a real issue and Warner Bros Studios had worked, and would continue to work, with the Council and local residents to ameliorate its effects.

 

The Chair invited Woodside Ward Councillor Karen Collett to speak to the Committee.

 

Councillor Collett acknowledged the positive benefits of Warner Bros Studios to the local economy and its residents.  However concerns remained about traffic impacts, particularly at peak times.  In addition, deliveries to the studios, often using oversized lorries, were sometimes misdirected down local roads.

 

It was suggested that a traffic impact survey should be undertaken amidst concerns about the proposed new junction.  This should take into account concerns about air quality, carbon footprints and the loss of parking. 

 

Residents were also interested to see the findings of a green travel plan, which had been part of the original application.  It was suggested that this exercise might be repeated.

 

The Chair invited Woodside Ward Councillor Tony Rogers to speak to the Committee.

 

Councillor Rogers welcomed the proposed extension to the Warner Bros Studios, which brought great benefits to the local economy.  He added his concerns about the traffic impacts on local residents, especially those located in Ashfields. 

 

Whilst communication from the studios was generally good, he hoped that more could be done to alert haulage companies to the need to use appropriate approach roads to the studios.

 

In response to the issues raised by the Ward Councillors, the Development Management Team Leader explained that traffic issues were the main focus of the report.  Detailed comments had been received from Hertfordshire County Council and Highways England, with several rounds of comments and correspondence on the application.  Both had withdrawn their objections.

 

The Chair opened the debate to Committee members.

 

Committee members welcomed the application from Warner Bros Studios.  The studios provided a significant bonus to the local economy and this application represented a further investment in the Borough.

 

However there were legitimate on-going concerns about traffic impacts and, notwithstanding the withdrawal of objections from Hertfordshire County Council and Highways England, on-going dialogue was needed between Warner Bros Studios and local residents to mitigate the issues raised.

 

Members were also mindful of the loss of green belt land, which was inappropriate development as defined by the National Planning Policy Framework.

 

However it was accepted that the studios and studio tour brought significant economic and social benefits.  Moreover, the increased benefits arising from the proposed development, locally, regionally and nationally, constituted very special circumstances.

 

The Chair moved the officer recommendation, with amendments to conditions 26, 27, 31, 41 and 42as set out in the update sheet.

 

RESOLVED –

 

That the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government be consulted in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Consultation) (England) Direction 2009 and, provided the Secretary of State does not call in the application for his own determination, planning permission be granted subject to the following conditions:

 

Detailed element

L Stage Workshop (Development Area 1 on drawing number 1184/PL/1011 A) and adjoining land

 

1.         The development to which this permission relates shall be begun within a period of three years commencing on the date of this permission.

           

2.         The development hereby permitted shall be carried out in accordance with the following approved drawings:-

 

            PL/224401/TOR1

            1184/PL/1009, 1184/PL/1010A, 1184/PL/1011A, 1184/PL/1012A

            1218/PL/1001, 1218/PL/1002, 1218/PL/1003, 1218/PL/1004, 1218/PL/1005, 1218/PL/1006, 1218/PL/1007

 

3.         The building hereby approved shall not be constructed at a ground level that exceeds the ground level of 95.00 FFL shown on the approved drawings and shall not exceed a height of 11m above the approved ground level.

 

4.         The building hereby approved shall be constructed in the materials shown on the approved drawings, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

5.                     The building hereby approved shall be carried out in accordance with the approved Flood Risk Assessment (FRA) carried out by Quattro Consult reference 4302 dated September 2015, Quattro Consult letters dated 16 October 2015 and 12 November 2015, drawing no. 4315-005-RevA and the following mitigation measures detailed within the FRA:

 

1.        Limiting the surface water run-off generated by the 1 in 100 year + climate change critical storm so that it will not exceed the run-off from the undeveloped site and not increase the risk of flooding off-site.

2.        Providing infiltration where possible through the use of infiltration trenches.

3.        Limiting any surface water overflow into the existing piped drainage system above the 1 in 100 year + climate change event to pre-development greenfield run-off rate of 5l/s.

 

The mitigation measures shall be fully implemented prior to occupation / use of  the development and subsequently in accordance with the timing / phasing arrangements embodied within the drainage scheme, or within any other period as may subsequently be agreed, in writing, by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Details of how the surface water drainage scheme shall be managed and maintained after completion for the lifetime of the development, which shall include the arrangements for adoption by any public authority or statutory undertaker, or any other arrangements to secure the operation of the sustainable drainage scheme throughout its lifetime, shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority prior to occupation / use of the development. The sustainable drainage scheme shall be managed and maintained in accordance with the approved details thereafter.

 

6.         No works of development comprising site preparation (including but not exclusively demolition of buildings and structures, ground works, ground remediation and service diversions) or construction shall commence until a Construction Environmental Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This Plan shall include (but not exclusively) details of:

 

·                    a development schedule including timetable of works

·                    parking of vehicles of site operatives and visitors

·                    access arrangements including the routing of vehicles away from residential roads

·                    management of deliveries to avoid peak times

·                    loading and unloading of plant and materials

·                    storage of plant and materials

·                    the erection and maintenance of security hoarding, where appropriate

·                    wheel washing facilities

·                    measures to control the emission of dust and dirt during demolition and construction

·                    measures to minimise noise emissions during demolition and construction

·                    hours of working

·                    the siting and type of fencing to protect all trees, hedges and habitats to be retained and all watercourses

·                    measures to manage ecological habitats during demolition and construction

·                    safe access to site offices

 

The Construction Environmental Management Plan shall be implemented as approved and adhered to throughout the period of construction works.

 

7.         No works of development comprising site preparation (including but not exclusively demolition of buildings and structures, ground works, ground remediation and service diversions) or construction shall commence until a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) for all aspects of waste management during site preparation and construction has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This shall include measures for recycling/disposing of waste resulting from demolition and construction works. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved SWMP throughout the period of construction works.

 

8.         No works of development comprising site preparation (including but not exclusively demolition of buildings and structures, ground works, ground remediation and service diversions) or construction shall commence until an archaeological  written scheme of investigation (WSI) for the development site has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This shall include the following:

 

i)     The statement of significance and research objectives;

ii)    The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording and the nomination of a competent person(s) or organisation to undertake the agreed works;

iii)   Such appropriate mitigation measures indicated as necessary by the evaluation.  This may include:

       a) the preservation of any remains in situ, if warranted,

       b) appropriate archaeological excavation of any remains before any development commences on the site, with provisions for subsequent analysis and publication of results,

       c) archaeological monitoring of the groundworks of the development (also including a contingency for the preservation or further investigation of any remains then encountered),

       d) and such other provisions as may be necessary to protect the archaeological interests of the site.

iv)   The programme for post-investigation assessment and subsequent analysis, publication & dissemination and deposition of resulting material.

 

            No development works shall take place other than in accordance with the approved WSI.

 

9.         No works of development comprising site preparation (including but not exclusively demolition of buildings and structures, ground works, ground remediation and service diversions) or construction shall commence until a foul water drainage strategy, detailing all associated on and off site drainage works, has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall proceed in strict accordance with the approved drainage plans and shall not be occupied / used until the drainage works are complete.

 

10.      No piling or any other foundation designs using penetrative methods shall be undertaken other than with the written consent of the Local Planning Authority, which may be given where it has been demonstrated that there is no resultant unacceptable risk to groundwater. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details.

 

11.      No occupation or use of the building hereby approved shall commence until a waste management scheme, detailing the siting, capacity and design of storage areas for waste and recycled materials, and a management plan for collection, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and this scheme has been implemented in full. These facilities shall be retained as approved at all times.

 

12.      No occupation or use of the building hereby approved shall commence until details of secure and weatherproof cycle storage facilities, based upon the Council’s cycle parking standards within the Watford District Plan 2000, have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and these facilities have been provided in accordance with the approved details. These facilities shall be retained as approved at all times.

 

13.      No external lighting shall be installed on the site or affixed to the building hereby approved unless the Local Planning Authority has first approved in writing details of the position, height, design, intensity and time restrictions of the lighting. The lighting shall be installed and operated thereafter in accordance with the approved details.

 

14.       No occupation or use of the building hereby approved shall commence until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a scheme of soft landscaping for the site, which shall include the location of all existing trees and hedgerows affected by the proposed development, details of those to be retained together with a scheme detailing measures for their protection in the course of development, and cut and fill sections where applicable. This shall include details for the protection of the County Wildlife Site sited to the east of L Stage.

 

            All soft landscaping works required by the approved scheme shall be carried out in accordance with a programme to be agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority before development commences and shall be maintained (including the replacement of any trees or plants which die, are removed or become seriously damaged or diseased in the next planting season with others of a similar size or species, unless the Local Planning Authority gives written consent to any variation) for a period for five years from the date of the approved scheme was completed.

 

15.       No occupation or use of the building hereby approved shall commence until there has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority a scheme of hard landscaping for the site, which shall include details of all boundary treatments and the enclosure of the rear service yard to the L Stage Workshop.

 

            All hard landscaping works required by the approved scheme shall be carried out and completed prior to the first occupation of the L Stage Workshop and shall be retained as approved at all times.

 

16.      Notwithstanding the details shown on the approved drawings regarding the remodelled earth bund along the southern boundary of the site adjacent to Gadeside, no part of the bund shall encroach into the County Wildlife Site or within the root protection zones of any trees within this site.

 

17.      No remodelling works to the earth bund along the southern boundary of the site adjacent to Gadeside shall commence until full details of the siting, height and profile of the bund have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The earth bund shall only be constructed in accordance with the approved details and shall be retained as approved at all times.

 

18.                   Immediately following implementation of this permission all ecological measures and/or works shall be carried out in accordance with the details contained in the Ecological Appraisal and Management Plan (Terence O'Rourke, September 2015) as submitted with the planning application. Details of ecological monitoring of the ecological management measures at 2, 5 and 10 years from the date of this planning permission shall be submitted to the Local Planning Authority for written approval. If monitoring reveals that the site is failing to achieve the desired condition, as stated in the Ecological Management Plan, appropriate remedial action shall take place, details of which (including a timetable for implementation) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The remedial action shall be implemented as approved.

           

19.                   All plant, machinery and equipment installed or operated in connection with the development shall be so enclosed and/or attenuated so that noise there from does not exceed a level of 45 dB(A) during the day and 30 dB(A) during the night when measured at a distance of 1 metre away.

 

20.      The building hereby approved shall only be used for purposes associated with film making and not for public exhibition purposes at any time.

           

21.      Notwithstanding the provisions of Schedule 2, Part 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any other order revoking and re-enacting that order with or without modification), no temporary uses of land and associated structures, other than temporary facilities and/or structures required for the purposes of filming, shall take place unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Outline element

Island Site (Development Area 11 on approved plan number 1184/PL/1011 A)

 

22.       No development shall commence within the Island Site until details of the reserved matters of appearance and landscaping have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall only be implemented in accordance with the approved details.

 

23.       Applications for approval of the reserved matters for the Island Site shall be made to the Local Planning Authority before the expiration of ten years from the date of this permission. Development shall commence before the expiration of two years from the date of approval of the final reserved matters application.

 

24.       The reserved matters applications pursuant to this permission shall be made in accordance with the following approved drawings:

 

            PL/224401/TOR1

            1184/PL/1009, 1184/PL/1010A, 1184/PL/1011A, 1184/PL/1012A

 

25.       The development hereby permitted in outline shall not exceed the maximum height of 15m above existing ground level, as shown on approved plan number 1184/PL/1012 A.

 

26.       The buildings shown in outline on the whole of the Island Site (within Watford Borough and Three Rivers District) shall not exceed a combined total of 13,200 sqm gross external footprint, as shown on approved plan number 1184/PL/1012 A.

 

27.      The buildings hereby permitted shall only be used for purposes ancillary to the use of the main Studio site for film and TV production and/or to support other film production and/or creative industry activities. The buildings shall not be used for any other purposes, except with the express permission of the Local Planning Authority.

 

28.      No works of development comprising site preparation (including but not exclusively demolition of buildings and structures, ground works, ground remediation and service diversions) or construction shall commence until an archaeological  written scheme of investigation (WSI) for the development site has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This shall include the following:

 

i)     The statement of significance and research objectives;

ii)    The programme and methodology of site investigation and recording and the nomination of a competent person(s) or organisation to undertake the agreed works;

iii)   Such appropriate mitigation measures indicated as necessary by the evaluation.  This may include:

       a) the preservation of any remains in situ, if warranted,

       b) appropriate archaeological excavation of any remains before any development commences on the site, with provisions for subsequent analysis and publication of results,

       c) archaeological monitoring of the groundworks of the development (also including a contingency for the preservation or further investigation of any remains then encountered),

       d) and such other provisions as may be necessary to protect the archaeological interests of the site.

iv)   The programme for post-investigation assessment and subsequent analysis, publication & dissemination and deposition of resulting material.

 

            No development works shall take place other than in accordance with the approved WSI.

 

29.      No works of development comprising site preparation (including but not exclusively demolition of buildings and structures, ground works, ground remediation and service diversions) or construction shall commence until a foul water drainage strategy, detailing all associated on and off site drainage works, has been submitted to and approved by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall proceed in strict accordance with the approved drainage plans and shall not be occupied / used until the drainage works are complete.

 

30.       Prior to commencement of any site works on the Island Site, a scheme of traffic mitigation for the existing Aerodrome Way / High Road / Ashfields signalised junction to increase capacity in general accordance with plan number 14-041-002 (Proposed Access to Island Site) in the submitted Transport Assessment (Odyssey Markides, September 2015) shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The approved scheme of traffic mitigation shall be implemented prior to occupation / first use of the Island Site development.

 

            Prior to commencement of any site works on the Island Site, full details of the proposed access arrangements to and from the existing highway network for the Island Site, consisting of a new arm on the existing Aerodrome Way / High Road / Ashfields signalised junction in general accordance with approved plan number 1184/PL/1012 A and plan number 14-041-002 (Proposed Access to Island Site) in the submitted Transport Assessment (Odyssey Markides, September 2015), shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and shall be made fully operational prior to commencement of construction on the Island Site.

 

31.       No works of development shall take place within the Island Site until an assessment has been carried out of the capacity at M25 Junction 21a (having regard to illustrative plan number 11012495/PHL/01 B submitted under planning application reference 5/2009/0708 to St Albans District Council) and such assessment, with full details of proposed mitigation measures if required, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority (including any measures that it considers necessary to mitigate the impact of the assessed scheme on the capacity of M25 Junction 21a).

 

32.       Prior to commencement of any site works on the Island Site, details of the measures to be incorporated into the development  of the Island Site to demonstrate how ‘Secured by Design’ Commercial accreditation shall be achieved shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details, and shall not be occupied or used until the Local Planning Authority has acknowledged in writing that it has received written confirmation of ‘Secured By Design’ accreditation.

 

33.       No construction works shall take place within the Island Site until full details of a surface water drainage scheme have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. 

 

            The surface water drainage scheme shall be based on the principles set out in the FRA carried out by Quattro Consult reference 4302 dated September 2015, Quattro Consult letters dated 16 October 2015 and 12 November 2015 and attached appendices, drawing no. 4302-ISL-002A, sustainable drainage principles and an assessment of the hydrological and hydro geological context of the development. The drainage scheme shall demonstrate the surface water run-off generated up to and including the 1 in 100 years plus climate change critical storm will not exceed the run-off from the undeveloped site following the corresponding rainfall event.

 

            The scheme shall also include:

 

1.            Detailed drainage plan to confirm final drainage design and location of proposed SuDS features and pipe-runs.

2.            Detailed surface water drainage calculations for all rainfall events up to and including the 1 in 100 year + climate change event

3.            Undertake final infiltration tests prior to the installation of the infiltration trenches to confirm infiltration rates

4.            Details of how the scheme shall be managed and maintained after completion for the lifetime of the development, which shall include the arrangements for adoption by any public authority or statutory undertaker, or any other arrangements to secure the operation of the sustainable drainage scheme throughout its lifetime.

 

            The scheme shall subsequently be implemented in accordance with the approved details prior to occupation / use of the development, and be permanently retained as such.

 

34.      No works of development comprising site preparation (including but not exclusively demolition of buildings and structures, ground works, ground remediation and service diversions) or construction shall commence until a Construction Environmental Management Plan has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This Plan shall include (but not exclusively) details of:

 

·                    a development schedule including timetable of works

·                    parking of vehicles of site operatives and visitors

·                    access arrangements including the routing of vehicles away from residential roads

·                    management of deliveries to avoid peak times

·                    loading and unloading of plant and materials

·                    storage of plant and materials

·                    the erection and maintenance of security hoarding, where appropriate

·                    wheel washing facilities

·                    measures to control the emission of dust and dirt during demolition and construction

·                    measures to minimise noise emissions during demolition and construction

·                    hours of working

·                    the siting and type of fencing to protect all trees, hedges and habitats to be retained and all watercourses

·                    measures to manage ecological habitats during demolition and construction

·                    safe access to site offices

 

The Construction Environmental Management Plan shall be implemented as approved and adhered to throughout the period of works for the development.

 

35.       No works of development comprising site preparation (including but not exclusively demolition of buildings and structures, ground works, ground remediation and service diversions) or construction shall commence until a Site Waste Management Plan (SWMP) for all aspects of waste management during site preparation and construction has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. This shall include measures for recycling/disposing of waste resulting from demolition and construction works. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved SWMP throughout the period of works for the development.

 

36.      Notwithstanding the layout shown on the approved plans, prior to commencement of any site works on the Island Site, full details of all parking spaces to be provided on the site (which shall not exceed 480 car parking spaces) and details of all manoeuvring areas for service and delivery vehicles shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be carried out in accordance with the approved details and the parking and manoeuvring areas retained as such thereafter.

 

37.      No occupation or use of the buildings hereby approved shall commence until a waste management scheme, detailing the siting, capacity and design of storage areas for waste and recycled materials, and a management plan for collection, has been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and this scheme has been implemented in full. These facilities shall be retained as approved at all times.

 

38.      No occupation or use of the buildings hereby approved shall commence until details of secure and weatherproof cycle storage facilities, based upon the Council’s cycle parking standards within the Watford District Plan 2000, have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority and these facilities have been provided in accordance with the approved details. These facilities shall be retained as approved at all times.

 

39.      No external lighting shall be installed on the site or affixed to any buildings on the site unless the Local Planning Authority has first approved in writing details of the position, height, design, intensity and time restrictions. The lighting shall be installed and operated thereafter in accordance with the approved details.

 

40.                   All plant, machinery and equipment installed or operated in connection with the development shall be so enclosed and/or attenuated so that noise there from does not exceed a level of 45 dB(A) during the day and 30 dB(A) during the night when measured at a distance of 1 metre away.

 

41.      Notwithstanding the provisions of Schedule 2, Part 4 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 2015 (or any other order revoking and re-enacting that order with or without modification), no temporary uses of land and associated structures, other than temporary facilities and/or structures required for the purposes of filming, shall take place unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

 

Informatives

 

1.                     The applicant is reminded that the Control of Pollution Act 1974 stipulates that construction activity (where work is audible at the site boundary) should be restricted to 0800 to 1800 Monday to Friday, 0900 to 1300 on Saturdays and not at all on Sundays and Bank Holidays.

 

2.         The Local Planning Authority has been positive and proactive in its consideration of this planning application, in line with the requirements of the National Planning Policy Framework and in accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (England) Order 2015. The Local Planning Authority suggested modifications to the development during the course of the application and the applicant submitted amendments which result in a form of development that maintains/improves the economic, social and environmental conditions of the District.

 

3.         It is an offence to take or disturb the breeding or resting location of protected species, and precautionary measures should be taken to avoid harm where appropriate. If protected species, or evidence of them, is discovered during the course of any development, works should stop immediately and advice sought as to how to proceed. This may be obtained from: Natural England: 0300 060 3900; the UK Bat Helpline: 0845 1300228 or Herts & Middlesex Bat Group: www.hmbg.org.uk ; Herts & Middlesex Badger Group; Hertfordshire Amphibian and Reptile Group, or a suitably qualified ecological consultant.

 

            Badgers are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) and the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, which makes it an offence to:

 

·                     Wilfully kill, injure or take a badger, or to attempt to do so;

·                     Cruelly ill-treat a badger; or

?          Intentionally or recklessly interfere with a badger sett.

 

            For birds, the removal of trees & shrubs should be avoided during the breeding season (March to September inclusive). If this is not possible then a search of the area should be made by a suitably experienced Ecologist and if active nests are found, then clearance must be delayed until the nesting period has finished.

 

            For reptiles and amphibians, stored materials (that might act as temporary resting places) are raised off the ground e.g. on pallets or batons; and any rubbish is cleared away to minimise the risk of animals using the piles for shelter. Caution should be taken when moving debris piles or building materials as any sheltering animals could be impacted on.

 

            Trenches should have escape ramps to provide an escape opportunity for any animals that may have become trapped.

 

4.         All works required to be undertaken on the highway network will require an Agreement with the Highway Authority. Before commencing the development the applicant shall contact HCC Highways Development Management, County Hall, Pegs Lane, Hertford, SG13 8DN to obtain their permission and requirements. This is to ensure any work undertaken in the highway is constructed in accordance with the Highway Authority's specification and by a contractor who is authorised to work in the public highway.