Oxford Direct Services completes work for Persimmon Homes

Oxford Direct Services (ODS) has assisted Persimmon Homes, one of the UK’s most successful housebuilders, with Section 38 and 278 highway works at its development site on Cumnor Hill over the past 3 months. The experience of ODS’s Highways team as contractors for the Oxfordshire County Council Highways Authority helps the developer bring the roads and footpaths of its new estates up to standard quickly, speeding the adoption process.

ODS has carried out  works for Persimmon Homes at sites including Medhurst Way, Littlemore Priory Park Marcham and Cumnor Hill and assisted at Tilbury Fields.

Sophie Hearn, Head of Infrastructure at ODS, said: “Our team has more than 20 years’ experience working for the local Highways Authority looking after roads and footpaths in and around Oxford. That in-depth knowledge of the standards required for Highways Adoption and our experience of working with the Highways Authority enables us to carry out the work efficiently and effectively for developers.

Tom Freeman, Adoptions Engineer in the Technical Department at Persimmon Homes North London, said: “We continue to use ODS for our remedial works for Highways Adoption at our developments in Oxfordshire because they are easy to deal with and understand exactly what is required to meet the local authority’s standards. The process is smooth, efficient and makes commercial sense.”

Editor’s note

Under Section 38 of the Highways Act 1980 developers can ask the Highway Authority to adopt new roads that have been constructed as part of the development. Adoption means the highway authority agrees to maintain the road at the public expense. Before the agreement, the developer must complete any works specified by the Highway Authority to bring the road up to standard. There is also often a requirement for the developer to deposit a returnable bond to cover the highway authority in case the developer is unable to complete the works, for example, as a result of insolvency.

Other works done for the company include section 278 whereby a developer is allowed to carry out works to the public highway. Section 278 Agreements are often entered into alongside Section 38 Agreements, which enable developers to ask the highway authority to ‘adopt’ new roads along with associated infrastructure such as drains, lighting and supporting structures.