Crane licence

You need a ‘Section 178 licence’ to place a crane or one of the following on the public highway:

• mobile elevating work platform (MEWP)
• scissor lift
• cherry picker
• concrete pump (or similar)

Before you start

You’ll need the following documents before you apply for a crane licence:

• a copy of your company's public liability insurance
• company bank details, VAT number and company number on letter headed paper
• all relevant site plans or diagrams, including traffic order pedestrian management plans
• confirmation of any road closures, parking bay suspensions and planning permissions applied for

Applying for a licence

Download the crane licence application form (PDF 1.96 MB)

Send your completed application to the address on the form.

You must apply for the licence at least 15 working days before it is needed.

Application meeting

We may need a meeting with you to discuss how you impact the highway. We recommend you apply with as much advance notice as possible in case this is needed.

Fees

A crane licence costs:

• £334 for the first day of operation
• £159 for each additional day
• £500 deposit for each crane operation

If you cancel the licence, you will be charged a cancellation fee of 30% of the licence fee.

Conditions

We'll inspect your site regularly. Your licensed activity must meet our terms and conditions. The terms and conditions must be agreed during your application.