UK lane rental schemes set to go nationwide to help reduce congestion

UK lane rental schemes, where utility companies can be charged up to £2,500 ($3,499) each day for digging up the busiest roads at peak times, can be adopted by councils as part of a government approved strategy to help reduce congestion. The announcement follows successful trials conducted in London and Kent. This scheme aims to incentivise firms to work on quieter roads or outside of rush hour as well as collaborate with other companies to prevent roads from being dug up multiple times. Around 2.5 mi
February 20, 2018 Read time: 2 mins
UK lane rental schemes, where utility companies can be charged up to £2,500 ($3,499) each day for digging up the busiest roads at peak times, can be adopted by councils as part of a government approved strategy to help reduce congestion. The announcement follows successful trials conducted in London and Kent.


This scheme aims to incentivise firms to work on quieter roads or outside of rush hour as well as collaborate with other companies to prevent roads from being dug up multiple times.

Around 2.5 million roadworks are carried out each year, costing the economy £4bn ($5.5bn) in increased costs to businesses through late employees or deliveries.

The 1837 Department for Transport will provide guidance in the autumn to help councils develop lane rental schemes for approval. Initial schemes could start by the end of 2019.

Jo Johnson, transport minister, said: “Drivers often see red when roadworks cause them delays, especially if no one is working on them. Lane rental has seen a massive drop in disruption to drivers as utility companies have changed when and where they carry out work. Now we want millions of motorists around England to get the same benefits.

“The Department for Transport carried out a consultation into the scheme last year, and the majority of those responding supported its rollout nationwide. Many said they wanted to take advantage of the ‘clear benefits’ of lane rental schemes.”

Mike Cherry, Federation of Small Businesses, national chairman, responding to the announcement, said: “Congestion on roads is an ongoing and frustrating concern for those that run and work for small businesses and their customers.

"Our own research shows 45% of small firms identify congestion on local roads as their top transport concern, while 31% said frequent roadworks are a major issue affecting their business, in particular the length of time taken to complete the work.

“Getting stuck in traffic costs valuable time and money, so a plan that cuts down on this is a welcome one.”

Urban Traffic Control

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Driverless Russia: Look – no hands!
    March 26, 2020
    Russia is betting on the importance of driverless cars as the country’s transport system develops in the years to come.
    Read More
  • UK drivers may be banned from wearing Google Glass
    August 2, 2013
    The UK Department for Transport (DfT) may ban drivers from getting behind the wheel wearing Google Glass, the smart spectacles which act as a computer. A Department spokesman said: “It is important that drivers give their full attention to the road when they are behind the wheel and do not behave in a way that stops them from observing what is happening on the road. “A range of offences and penalties already exist to tackle those drivers who do not pay proper attention to the road including careless driving
    Read More
  • Balfour Beatty JV to deliver UK smart motorways package
    July 22, 2015
    The Balfour Beatty Vinci joint venture has been awarded a contract by Highways England to deliver a smart motorway package worth up to US$792 million, the largest of Highways England’s three packages within its US$2.3 billion Smart Motorway Programme. The joint venture will deliver smart motorway upgrades to a ten mile stretch of the M5 Junctions 4a to 6 in Worcestershire; a 12 mile section of the M6 Junctions 2 to 4 in the Midlands and a 32 mile stretch of the M4 Junctions 3 to 12 in London and Berkshir
    Read More
  • Melbourne installs smart road technology
    June 18, 2013
    Work is now underway on installing the latest electronic freeway management technology along Melbourne’s West Gate Freeway in Victoria, Australia, with the entire project to be completed by the middle of next year. Installation of the freeway management system along more of Melbourne’s road network will be fully integrated with the one already in use on the M1 east of Williamstown Road as well as that proposed for the M80 Ring Road, according to Victorian Roads (VicRoads) minister Terry Mulder. “Indeed, ou
    Read More

Highlighted Content