What is a Section 278 Agreement?

A Section 278 Agreement is a legal agreement between a developer and a highway authority to carry out highway works.

New Rates For Sick Pay, Family Leave And National Minimum Wage From April 2026

The Government has set out its proposed new statutory rates for statutory sick pay and family leave pay to apply from 6^th April 2026.

Payment Type	Old Rate	New Rate
Statutory maternity pay	£187.18 per week	£194.32 per week
Statutory paternity pay	£187.18 per week	£194.32 per week
Statutory shared parental pay	£187.18 per week	£194.32 per week
Statutory adoption pay	£187.18 per week	£194.32 per week
Statutory parental bereavement pay	£187.18 per week	£194.32 per week
Statutory neonatal care leave pay	£187.18 per week	£194.32 per week
Statutory sick pay	£118.75 per week	£123.25 per week

The average gross weekly earnings required to qualify for the various forms of family leave pay is proposed to increase from £125.00 or more per week, to £129.00 or more per week from 6^th April 2026.

These changes sit alongside the proposed changes to national minimum wage which, if approved, will take effect from 1^st April 2026:

Category	Rate
Aged 21 and above	£12.71 per hour
Aged 18–20	£10.85 per hour
Aged under 18 (but above compulsory school leaving age)	£8.00 per hour
Apprentices aged under 19	£8.00 per hour
Apprentices aged 19 or over but in the first year of their apprenticeship	£8.00 per hour
Accommodation offset	£11.10 per day