Road works

The Council carry out works to maintain or improve the highways and carry out road improvements.  More information at Roads and pavements. We look after all highways in Waltham Forest except for the A406 (North Circular Road) and the A12 (Hackney – M11 Link Road), which are maintained by Transport for London

Most of the works in our streets are carried out by utility companies, who need to dig up the highway to install and maintain water, gas, electricity, broadband, telephone and sewer services for residents and businesses.  The Council have a duty to co-ordinate planned street works, with the aim to limit disruption. We carry out inspections of works in progress, and following completion, to check the required standards are met. 

Some emergency or urgent works, for example burst water mains or gas leaks, must start immediately without warning and cannot be planned in advance.

If you have enquiries or concerns about works undertaken by a utility company on a public road:

• you should first try to identify which company is responsible for the problem
• inform the company using the contact information below

If you are not able to identify the company, or you are not satisfied with the response from them, you can report a road or utility works problem to the Council or call 020 8496 3000.

If complaints or enquiries about a site are received, we will aim to contact the utility company and/or inspect the site on the same day if possible or the next working day if not. 

View works proposed and in progress

The map shows the proposed works dates and contact links for the promoter.  Please note proposed dates may change due to the utilities changing plans for their own reasons; or due to the Council asking them to put back, or bring forward, works in order to coordinate them with other activities and limit disruption to the highway network.

The most common statutory undertakers that are allowed to work on the public highway in Waltham Forest are:

• BT Openreach
• National Gas
• Thames Water
• Transport for London (TfL)
• UK Power Networks
• Virgin Media

They are known by different names such as utility companies, statutory undertakers, stats companies, or works promoters. There are other companies that are allowed to work on the public highway, but the list above covers the main group.  Under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 they are entitled to dig in the highway in order to provide and maintain their services.

If you have enquiries or concerns about works undertaken by a utility company on a public road:

• you should first try to identify which company is responsible for the problem
• inform the company using the contact details above

If you are not to identify the company, or you receive an unsatisfactory response from them, you can report a road or utility works problem to the Council using the link on the right hand side of this page or telephone the Council on 020 8496 3000.

For more information about street works licences and temporary traffic orders, please visit our Highway Licences webpage.