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RAMS for a Scaffold Licence Application

Putting scaffolding on a pavement or road? The council will usually want a licence, and often a risk assessment and method statement to go with it. We write project-specific scaffold licence RAMS remotely, for any UK council. From £120.

🏗️ Scaffold licence 📍 Any UK council 💷 From £120

Scaffolding that stands on, or oversails, a public footway or road needs permission from the highway authority. For building owners, roofers, painters and small builders, the RAMS is often what holds the application up.

Why the council asks for it

Section 169 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it an offence to erect scaffolding or a similar structure on the highway without a licence. Councils attach conditions to protect the public, and a RAMS is how you show you'll meet them. They typically want to know how you'll:

  • keep pedestrians safe, using a protected walkway, a fan or a diversion route
  • stop tools, materials and debris falling onto the footway
  • light and mark the scaffold during darkness, and keep standards visible to traffic
  • sequence erection and dismantling to keep the public away from the work area
  • inspect the scaffold and keep it secure against unauthorised climbing

What your scaffold RAMS covers

  • Site, licence and scaffolding contractor details
  • Scaffold footprint, clear footway width and any road space used
  • Erection, alteration and dismantling sequence
  • Pedestrian protection: walkway, fans, netting, brick guards and signage
  • Lighting, anti-climb measures and out-of-hours security
  • Inspection regime (before first use, every 7 days and after bad weather)
  • Risk assessment scored before and after controls, plus emergency arrangements

How it works

  1. Send what you have: photos of the frontage, a sketch or drawing of the scaffold and the council's licence form.
  2. Tell us who's erecting it and how long it will be up.
  3. Receive a signed, submission-ready PDF, usually within 72 hours.
  4. Submit it with your application. One revision round is included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a licence to put scaffolding on the pavement?
Usually, yes. Under section 169 of the Highways Act 1980 you need a licence from the council before putting scaffolding on the highway. Many councils ask for a RAMS with the application.
Does the RAMS replace the scaffold design?
No. The scaffolder is still responsible for the design, for example a TG20 compliance sheet. The RAMS covers how the job is planned and managed around the public.
I'm the homeowner, not the scaffolder. Can you still help?
Yes. We'll write the RAMS around your scaffolding contractor's details and method. We just need their name and a few answers from them.
How much does it cost?
From £120 for a standard single-site scaffold, with a fixed quote before we start.

Also see RAMS for hoarding licences and RAMS for skips, MEWPs and other highway licences.

Please note: requirements differ between councils, and the licence decision rests with the highway authority. AB SiteSafe prepares the RAMS. It doesn't design scaffolds or apply for licences. The scaffold design and inspections remain the scaffolding contractor's responsibility.

Need Scaffold Licence RAMS?

Send a photo and the council's form, and we'll quote the same day.

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