Hampshire County Council gives go-ahead to development of new scheme to minimise road works disruption

Proposals that could lead to the introduction of a new scheme to reduce delays on the county’s busiest roads, at the busiest times, have been given approval by Hampshire County Council

Jan 28 2025

Councillor Lulu Bowerman, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Waste, said: “We know that being stuck in traffic jams as a result of roadworks is a real headache for road users. Whilst roadworks and temporary closures are a necessity to allow organisations, including our own, to undertake repairs safely, install new equipment, or respond to an emergency, people are rightly annoyed when work overruns with seemingly no consequence. 

“I’m pleased to give the green light to the development of proposals that, subject to securing the necessary powers from the Department for Transport, will provide a financial incentive to those needing to carry out roadworks on busier parts of the highway network to work more efficiently, including by operating outside of peak times and for shorter periods wherever possible. In other places where similar schemes have been adopted, evidence shows they have been successful in reducing queues and delays, whilst also raising additional money for initiatives to further drive down disruption.” 

The plan, which would complement the existing road permitting scheme, would include charging a daily fee for the duration of the work, including any delays, with different charges applied depending on the type of work being undertaken and how disruptive those works will be to the travelling public. 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. Subject to new national legislation that is expected later this year, a proportion of the income - expected to be around 50% - could be re-invested back into highway maintenance for day-to-day repairs, including potholes.  
 
Following approval by Councillor Bowerman for the development of a Hampshire specific scheme, detailed proposals will be published later this year for wider consultation. Final recommendations will then 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 spring 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.  
 
More information here.