The New Roads & Street Works Act 1991 replaced the Public Utility Street works Act 1950. It came into force on the 1 January 1993.

It's purpose was to put the duty on Street Authorities to attempt to co-ordinate all works in the highway and for all those wanting to carry out road work to co-operate in this process.

The main objectives of the co-ordination are to:

• ensure safety
• minimise inconvenience to people using the highway, with a specific reference to people with a disability
• protect the structure of the highway and apparatus in it