Highways Engineer

Interim Highways Engineer - Stopping Up and Legal Closures

Location: North West (Hybrid - 2 Days in Office)

Duration: 6-Months Minimum

Rate: £40-50 per hour DOE

Our local authority client in the North West is seeking an Interim Highways Engineer to take the lead on Stopping Up and Legal Highway Closure processes. This is a specialist role requiring experience with the Highways Act 1980 and Town and Country Planning Act 1990, as well as a firm grasp of the statutory procedures for managing highway closures and legal orders.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Council's stopping up and legal highway closure applications.
• Liaise with applicants, legal services, planning officers, and the public throughout the process.
• Interpret legislation and manage the statutory consultation and legal order processes.
• Draft reports, legal notices, and formal orders in partnership with Legal Services.
• Attend site visits, consultations, and court hearings or public inquiries as needed.
• Support delivery and review of Section 278/38 agreements - including design assessment and site inspections.
• Maintain accurate records and application tracking, contributing to reporting and service improvements.
• Represent the Highways team at internal and external meetings.

Person Specification

• Strong knowledge of the Highways Act 1980 and Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
• Experience managing statutory processes within highways, public rights of way, or planning.
• Strong organisational and project management skills, able to handle multiple applications simultaneously.
• Excellent communication skills - written and verbal - with experience drafting technical and legal documents.
• Confident liaising with a wide range of stakeholders including developers, legal teams, and members of the public.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, document management systems, and ideally GIS or AutoCAD.
• Previous experience in a Local Authority or highways-related legal role.
• Familiarity with Section 278 and Section 38 processes.
• Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIHT, RTPI) or working toward this. - Desirable

How to Apply

If you're interested in applying, please apply now with your CV and contact Joe O'Halloran at Spencer Clarke Group on .