What Is NRSWA? | New Roads and Street Works Act Explained
NRSWA stands for the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991. It is the piece of UK legislation that governs how work is carried out on public highways and streets. If you work on utilities, telecoms, water, gas, or any other activity that involves excavating or working within a public road or footway, NRSWA almost certainly applies to you.
What Does NRSWA Cover?
The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 sets out the legal framework for anyone who needs to carry out works on public roads and footways in the UK. This includes utility companies, telecoms contractors, water and drainage teams, local authorities, and the contractors they employ.
The Act covers everything from the planning and notice requirements for opening up a road, through to the quality standards for reinstating the surface once work is complete.
It also establishes the accreditation requirements for the operatives and supervisors who carry out this work — which is where NRSWA training comes in.
Why Is NRSWA Accreditation Required?
Under the Act, anyone carrying out street works must hold a valid NRSWA accreditation card. This applies to both operatives (those doing the physical work) and supervisors (those overseeing it).
The requirement exists to protect the public, ensure reinstatements are completed to a standard that keeps roads safe, and reduce the number of defects that lead to costly repeat excavations.
Working on the highway without the correct accreditation can expose individuals and their employers to enforcement action from the local highway authority.
Who Needs NRSWA Training?
Anyone working on or directly supervising work within the limits of a public road or footway will typically need NRSWA accreditation. This includes utility operatives, streetworks gangs, site supervisors, and subcontractors working for telecoms, water, gas, electricity, and drainage companies.
The specific units required depend on your role and the type of work you carry out. Operatives study units covering excavation, reinstatement, and signing, lighting and guarding. Supervisors study a broader range including additional units on managing the work safely and legally.
What Does NRSWA Training Involve?
NRSWA training is delivered as a series of units, each covering a specific aspect of streetworks. Training is practical as well as theoretical, and candidates are assessed at the end of each unit.
On successful completion, candidates receive a Streetworks Accreditation card issued by CABWI or an equivalent awarding body. This card must be renewed periodically, which is done via a reassessment.
Apollo QA delivers NRSWA operative and supervisor training at centres across the East Midlands, with courses running regularly throughout the year.
NRSWA vs Other Highway Qualifications
NRSWA accreditation is specific to street works — the physical act of opening up and reinstating public roads and footways. It is separate from, for example, traffic management qualifications or plant operator licences.
However, Signing, Lighting and Guarding (SLG) is a unit within the NRSWA framework and is also studied as a standalone qualification. Cat and Genny training, while closely associated with streetworks, is a separate safety competency relating to the detection of underground utilities before excavation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The terms are often used interchangeably. Streetworks is the common term for work carried out on public roads and footways. NRSWA is the legislation that governs how that work must be done and who is qualified to do it.
NRSWA accreditation cards are typically valid for five years. After that, card holders must complete a reassessment to renew their accreditation.
Working without the correct accreditation is a breach of the New Roads and Street Works Act. Enforcement can come from the local highway authority and can result in penalties for the individual and their employer.
No. Supervisors study a different and broader set of units than operatives. There are also separate supervisor-specific units covering the management and legal responsibilities of overseeing street works.
No. NRSWA specifically relates to public highways and streets. Work carried out entirely on private land is not covered by the Act, though other health and safety legislation still applies.
Apollo QA runs NRSWA courses at training centres across the East Midlands, including Nottingham, Derby, Leicester, Sheffield, and other locations. Check our course calendar for upcoming dates.
Ready to Enrol?
Get your NVQ qualification through workplace assessment — no exams, no classroom.
View NRSWA Training CoursesPrefer to speak to someone?
0115 990 3229