GREATER Manchester will be the next area in the country to reduce traffic delays and disruption caused by road works, under the first Joint Permit Scheme.

The Greater Manchester Road Activity Permits Scheme (GMRAPS) is a new initiative by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) in partnership with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

All road or street works across the 10 local authorities will now be more effectively coordinated and managed by a central unit, based at TfGM headquarters in Manchester city centre.

Any organisation planning to carry out work will have to apply and pay for a permit in advance.

Applications can be rejected if works are considered too disruptive and penalty notices will be issued if works overrun or conditions are not met.

The scheme will improve journey times and reliability for all road users and reduce the economic impact of congestion in Greater Manchester.

Improved information will be available about road works, including advance warning and a clear indication of durations, which are expected to reduce.

The Department for Transport gave the go ahead for the scheme, which covers all local roads, cycleways and footways.

Local transport minister Norman Baker said: “I am pleased that Greater Manchester now has the power and the freedom to take greater control of how its road works are organised.

Permit schemes have already shown in places like Kent that they will not only help to reduce local congestion, but also provide a better service to drivers, cyclists and passengers.”

Lord Peter Smith, chairman of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, said: “This is another first for Greater Manchester, and one that will benefit all road users – drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.

“Through tighter controls and improved coordination across all ten districts we expect to cut travel times, keep down fuel costs and make our roads safer for all road users.

“We will also save the economy millions of pounds every year by reducing the impact of congestion on local businesses.

“Reduced delays will mean less harmful CO2 emissions from slow moving traffic, meaning a better environment for everyone.”

Councillor Andrew Fender, chairman of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: “This marks a new culture – rather than simply being informed of road works, we will now be in a position to give permissions and set restrictions for the benefit of all road users.

“All organisations planning street works will have to plan ahead and be efficient in their delivery – or face penalties. I look forward to seeing real benefits for all road users across Greater Manchester soon.”

Greater Manchester’s highways network covers 9,157km and over 100,000 road works take place every year.

GMRAPS is the first permit scheme in the country to be administered on behalf of 10 authorities by a central body.

It is the first Greater Manchester-wide system of assessment and approval across the 10 district’s borders for road works.

The scheme is cost-neutral: permits will pay for the administration costs and any surplus will result in a reduced permit cost.