HIGHWAY ENGINEERING
Complete End-to-End Highway Design Services
From concept to adoption, Enviren delivers fully compliant highway engineering design solutions. Section 38, 278, 184 & 72 Agreements, DMRB & Manual for Streets standards, technical approval, and construction support.
OUR APPROACH
Practical Engineering with Full Compliance
At Enviren, we provide a complete end-to-end highways engineering design service, supporting projects from initial concept through to technical approval, construction and adoption. Our approach combines practical engineering expertise with full compliance against national standards, local authority requirements and statutory legislative frameworks.
EARLY STAGE SERVICES
Highway Planning, Concept Design & Feasibility
We support development at all stages with feasibility-level and concept-level design studies, helping unlock sites and establish the most cost-effective, policy-compliant solutions.
Access Assessment
Preliminary access and visibility assessments to evaluate site suitability and identify constraints early in the planning process.
Concept Design
Feasibility design for new junctions, internal layouts and parking arrangements, with swept path analysis using AutoTrack/Vehicle Tracking software.
Infrastructure Review
High-level drainage, earthworks and utilities reviews, evaluating feasibility against Manual for Streets, MfS2, and Local Design Guides.
Authority Engagement
Early engagement with Highway Authorities to confirm design acceptability and establish approval pathway before detailed design commences.
STANDARDS COMPLIANCE
Detailed Highway Design (DMRB, MfS & Local Standards)
We deliver fully engineered highway designs to support planning, technical approval and construction. Our team works to all required national and local standards.
Manual for Streets (MfS & MfS2) — for streets in urban and residential environments
DMRB (Design Manual for Roads and Bridges) — for strategic and higher-speed networks
Local Highway Authority Design Guides — tailored to each local council's requirements
Specification for Highway Works (SHW) — for construction materials, testing and workmanship
Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions (TSRGD) — for signage and road markings
CDM Regulations 2015 — ensuring safety is integrated into every stage of design
TYPICAL DELIVERABLES
Comprehensive Design
Outputs
Access Junctions
Priority, roundabouts, and signalised layouts designed to current standards with full visibility assessments.
Road Realignment
Road widening and realignment schemes with full horizontal and vertical geometry design.
Car Parks & Streets
Internal street networks and car park design with pavement design to SHW standards.
Active Travel
Footways, cycleways, shared-use paths and pedestrian improvement schemes.
Drainage Design
Highway drainage with SuDS integration, hydraulic modelling and attenuation design.
Street Furniture
Street lighting, signage, road markings and traffic management infrastructure.
HIGHWAYS ACT 1990
Statutory Agreements & Technical Approval
We prepare and deliver full design packages for all Highways Act agreements, managing the approval process from submission through to construction and adoption.
Section 38 Agreements
Full design packages for new adoptable roads, including highway alignment, pavement design, drainage infrastructure, street lighting, signage and road markings.
We coordinate with utilities, drainage boards and planning teams, managing technical approval submissions and design revisions through to adoption.
Section 278 Agreements
Design packages for alterations or improvements to existing public highways, including upgraded junctions, traffic calming, crossings and signals.
We provide Road Safety Audit recommendations (Stage 1–4) in accordance with GG119, construction phasing and traffic management plans.
Section 184 Agreements
Design of vehicle crossovers and access points with visibility assessments and safety compliance checks.
Full applications and technical drawings for new or modified access onto the public highway.
Section 72 Agreements
Drainage design for pipes, culverts, manholes and outfalls where connections affect the public highway.
Hydraulic modelling, capacity analysis and all necessary documentation for Section 72 approvals.
SUSTAINABLE DRAINAGE
Highway Drainage Design (SuDS & Attenuation)
We provide full drainage engineering services integrated with highway design, ensuring compliance with LLFA requirements, CIRIA C753 and non-worsening runoff policies.
SuDS components — swales, infiltration basins, permeable paving, raingardens, filter drains designed to CIRIA guidance
Attenuation design — ponds, tanks or geocellular systems with hydraulic modelling to demonstrate storage capacity and discharge rates
Highway gully design — with associated hydraulic calculations to demonstrate adequate surface water removal
Adoption coordination — liaison with Water Authorities, Highway Authorities and SAB (Schedule 3) where applicable
Water quality treatment — pollution risk assessment and treatment chain design for highways runoff
Why Choose Enviren
35+ Years Experience
Combined civil and environmental drainage design expertise
National Recognition
Expertise in SuDS, nutrient neutrality, and off-mains systems
Full Compliance
Designs satisfy NPPF, PPG, and CIRIA guidance
End-to-End Service
Complete coordination delivering cost-effective solutions
750+ Projects
Proven track record across all development scales
94% Success Rate
Near-perfect approval rate at first submission
Frequently Asked
Questions
What is a Section 38 Agreement?
A Section 38 Agreement is required when proposing to construct a new road to be adopted by the Local Highway Authority. It ensures the design and construction meet adoptable standards before the road becomes publicly maintainable highway.
When do I need a Section 278 Agreement?
Section 278 Agreements are required for any alterations or improvements to the existing public highway, such as new junctions, access points, traffic calming, or changes to road layout. The Highway Authority must approve all works before construction can commence.
What standards apply to highway design?
Highway design must comply with Manual for Streets (MfS & MfS2) for urban environments, DMRB for strategic networks, Specification for Highway Works (SHW), Traffic Signs Regulations (TSRGD), and relevant Local Highway Authority Design Guides specific to your area.
How long does Technical Approval take?
Technical Approval timescales vary by Highway Authority and complexity of works. Typically, initial review takes 4-6 weeks, with additional time for design revisions. We manage this process, responding to comments and liaising with the authority throughout.
What is swept path analysis?
Swept path analysis verifies that design vehicles (refuse, emergency, delivery vehicles) can safely navigate proposed junctions, access points and internal road layouts. We use AutoTrack/Vehicle Tracking software to demonstrate compliance with design standards.
Do you provide construction stage support?
Yes, we provide pre-start meetings with contractors, review on-site setting out and materials compliance, respond to contractor queries during build, and prepare as-built drawings and certification packages required for adoption.