Hampshire County Council sets out proposals for new ‘lane rental’ scheme to minimise road works disruption

Hampshire County Council has set out proposals that could lead to the introduction of a new disruption charge scheme designed to reduce delays on the county’s busiest roads, at the busiest times

Jan 21 2025

The plan, which would complement the existing permitting scheme, would incentivise any companies or agencies needing to carry out work on busier parts of the public highway to improve their planning, work outside of peak times wherever possible, and reduce the duration of their work. 

This would be achieved by charging a daily fee for the duration of the work, including any delays. Surplus revenues received over and above the basic scheme operation costs would be ringfenced towards funding innovative projects that reduce the disruption of streetworks and roadworks and, subject to new national legislation that is expected later this year, a proportion of the income could be re-invested back into highway maintenance. 

The plans are due to be considered by the County Council’s Cabinet Lead for Highways and Waste, Councillor Lulu Bowerman, on 28 January 2025. If agreed, the draft proposals would then be subject to wider consultation this year. Final recommendations would subsequently be developed by the County Council before formal approval is sought from the Department for Transport. The aim would be for the scheme to become operational in 2026. 

Disruption charging – or ‘lane rental’ – is already in operation in several parts of the UK and local schemes must comply with national legislation. Rental charges can only be applied on the most congested, strategically important local roads under the management of the highway authority. The County Council would be able to apply a ‘rental’ charge of up to £2,500 per day, the maximum that can be charged under the legislation. 

For more information, see the Decision Day report. 

ENDS