1 Overview
A directional developer sign (DDS) is a temporary road sign that helps drivers find a new housing or business development. These signs usually have an arrow and the name of the development. They must follow the rules in The Traffic Signs Regulation and General Directions 2016.
You must have a DDS licence before you put up signs on a public road or private street. West Sussex County Council (WSCC) normally allow up to 5 signs for each development. We only approve more in special cases.
You must remove all signs as soon as the licence ends.
If you want put signs on streetlights, lit signs or bollards, you also need permission from Enerveo. If they allow it, you will get a permission approval number or form. You must give this to us when you apply for your licence.
Different rules may apply on roads that are not looked after by WSCC. For example, National Highways manage the A27. You must contact the right authority for approval before putting up signs.
2 Sign regulations
Each sign must:
- have text at least 50 millimetres high
- leave at least 2.3 metres of space above footways
- show the licence number and end date on the back
You are responsible for making, putting up and maintaining your signs.
You cannot put signs on:
- roundabouts
- traffic lights
- pedestrian crossings
- motorway slip roads
- central reservations
You must make sure signs are safe for everyone who uses the road. They must not block any other road signs unless you have approval.
3 Licence costs and additional charges
A Directional Developer Sign (DDS) licence costs:
- £850 for up to 5 signs
- £250 for each additional sign
The licence covers a maximum of 10 signs. It lasts for up to 6 months. You can also apply for an extension of up to 6 months.
You must apply at least 5 working days before you plan to put up signs.
Fast track service
If you need approval quickly, you can use our fast track service. It costs an additional £52.
We aim to process fast track applications within 1 working day.
To use this service, contact us before you submit your application. Send an email to highwayslicencing@westsussex.gov.uk.
Charges for unauthorised signs
If signs are put up without a licence, or if they stay up after the end of the licence, we will remove them. We will charge £50 per sign, per day until they are taken down.
You can find out if a sign has a licence, or when a licence ends, by checking the list of licensed developer directional signs.
4 Apply for a licence
5 Terms and conditions
Responsibility
The licensee will be responsible for all costs including the manufacture, erection and maintenance of the directional developer signs in accordance with this licence.
Requirements
All directional development signs must comply with the requirements of diagram 2701 or diagram 2701.1 in the thirteenth schedule to the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. The "x" height for the sign legend is 50mm and at least 2.3 metres headroom must be left below any signs that overhang a footway.
All directional development signs must display the licence number and expiry date of the licence on the back of the signs.
Health and safety
The licensee and their employees or agents shall pay due regard to the safety and control of all highway users and the additional particular needs of the visually and mobility impaired. Signs and warning notices shall be displayed in accordance with the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016, the Health and Safety (Signs and Signals) Regulations 1996 and any other legislative requirements.
Road signs
To install directional developer signs:
- make sure they don’t block or reduce the visibility of any existing road signs, road markings, or other signs (like sponsorship signs), unless the council approves it
- if the council gives approval, they may ask you to provide or pay for alternative signs or road markings that meet their requirements
- attach no more than 2 directional developer signs to any single pole
Site conditions
The licensee and their employees or agents shall in addition to the above requirements comply with the additional site specific conditions and shall also comply forthwith with any directions given (whether in writing or otherwise) by the council regarding the erection of directional developer signs.
Signage
You will need to obtain permission from the West Sussex County Council’s street lighting service provider, Enerveo, to erect any directional developer signs on lamp columns so that they can check that the type of fixings used to attach your signs to highway lamp columns will not cause any damage. You can email TPA@enerveo.com.
The licensee shall take all reasonable steps to prevent damage to the lighting columns, in, upon or over which the developer directional signs are attached to and if any such damage is caused by reason of the erection of the developer directional signs, the cost of making good the damage shall be paid by the licensee to the council within fourteen days of receipt by the licensee of a demand for such payment.
Upon the expiry of this license or upon its termination as a result of a breach of any of the terms and conditions herein contained, the licensee shall forthwith remove the developer directional signs or West Sussex County Council will remove the signs at a cost to the licensee, see the licence costs and additional charges page.
6 List of licensed directional developer signs
West Sussex County Council keeps a list of approved signs. It shows all developer signs that have a licence.
The list includes:
- the licence number
- the name of the development
- where the signs are
- when the licence ends
The list helps keep roads safe. It stops too many signs being put up on roads and makes sure all signs follow council rules.
List of licensed directional developer signs (PDF, 644KB)