Apply for a materials licence
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You need a materials licence to put building materials on a public road.
The minimum period for a materials licence is five days. It is your responsibility to renew your licence in time.
Before you apply
You will need:
- Parking bay suspension reference (if applicable)
- Where the materials will go
- Type of materials
- Amount in tonnes or cubic metres
We cannot issue highway licences for red routes. We can only issue a licence for side roads connected to red routes.
If you plan to take up any part of a controlled parking space, you also need a bay suspension. If a parking bay is required, you do not need to apply separately. See bay suspension fees.
Licence conditions
Your material must:
- Be left directly outside the property (where possible)
- Be no longer than five metres and no wider than two metres
The licence must be used for the same purpose that it has been applied for. It cannot be used for any other purposes, including parking of vehicles when not in use.
A copy of your licence must be available to view on site.
Read the full materials licence terms and conditions.
Timescales
You must apply for a materials licence a minimum of five working days before you need the licence to start. This gives us time to process your application and provide warning notices to other residents.
The day of submission is not included in the notice period.
Your application must be received by 3pm on the day of submission for it to be accepted for that day. If your application is received after this time, it will be deemed as received the next working day. The start date will then change.
Licences are only valid for consecutive days.
Fees
Fees for this year are valid from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026.
View materials licence fees.
Apply for a licence
You can apply for a materials licence online.
After you apply
A site meeting may be required before your licence is granted. This may affect the start date.
We will contact you to arrange a suitable time if a site meeting is necessary.
We will refuse applications if the location is unsuitable.
Make a payment
If your application is successful, you will be asked to complete payment. You can make a payment online.
Renew
You can renew a materials licence online or by email.
Renew online
Renew a licence online using the application form.
Renew by email
To renew by email, send the first page of the current licence to highwaylicences@wandsworth.gov.uk.
Timescales for renewals
If your licence is not renewed before its expiry date, you will need to pay for a new licence. Any parking bays will return to general use.
Renewal requests must be received by 3pm on the day of submission, three working days before the date of expiry.
Renewals will be counted as continuous rolling days and the appropriate tier rate will apply.