Skips, scaffolding and hoarding applications

Skip licensing

Anyone wishing to place a skip on the public highway must be in receipt of a valid licence to do so, a licence is needed whether you place the skip on the highway for 5 minutes or 3 weeks.

Applications for skip licences will only be accepted from skip providers/owners who hold an account with the Council. The person wanting to hire the skip cannot obtain a licence.

Any skip which is found to be on the public highway without a valid skip licence from the Council may face formal enforcement action which could lead to the skip being removed by the Council and the provider/owner of the skip may face legal proceedings.

You can apply for a skip licence by downloading an application form(pdf, 33KB). You can fax the licence through to our skip desk on 020 8891 7794 who will endeavour to issue the licence as soon as possible. Please note that we do not verbally authorise skip licences, you must wait to receive the licence before depositing a skip. A skip licence currently costs £41 and is valid for a maximum period of 3 weeks, after which time a new application will need to be made.

What we will do for you

• If you wish to check whether a skip is licensed, please contact our skip licensing desk by telephone on 020 8487 5115. Our skip desk can also provide details of skip Companies which have an account which the Council (Please note that this list does not constitute a recommendation)
• If you have concerns regarding an unlicensed, unlit, or overfull skip please contact our Street Scene Enforcement Team by telephone on 08456 122 660, by email at streetsceneenforcement@richmond.gov.uk or by completing our online reporting form.

What we would ask of you

• If you are a skip Company, please wait until you are in receipt of a valid skip licence before depositing a skip on the highway. We do not verbally authorise skip licences. Please also ensure your skips are properly marked, lit, and emptied regularly.
• If you are hiring a skip, please use a reputable Company and ask the skip Company for a receipt and confirmation that they have licensed the skip through the Council. Also check your responsibilities with regard to lighting the skip as this responsibility is often passed to the hirer of the skip by the skip Company

Scaffolding and hoarding

When carrying out any building work/maintenance or removal of any part of a property which is adjacent to the public highway (road, pavement or rear lane), the safety of all users of the highway must be paramount.

This is achieved by providing safe areas at ground level or a platform at high level. When it is necessary to place hoardings on the highway around the place of work or scaffolding, permission is required and can be obtained from the Highway Management Group.