Hampshire County Council outlines congestion-reducing ‘lane rental’ proposal in submission to Government

The introduction of a lane rental scheme would enable the County Council to charge a daily fee of up to £2,500 for the duration of roadworks, including any delays, on more than 750km (nearly 500 miles) of Hampshire’s roads. If approved by the Department for Transport, the scheme could be introduced later this year. The goal is to reduce traffic disruption on Hampshire’s busy road network, by providing financial incentives for organisations to carefully plan and execute their works so that they cause minimum disruption. 
 
Councillor Lulu Bowerman, the County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways and Passenger Services, said: “I’m pleased to give approval to submit our lane rental plans to the Government, following the finalisation of our proposals. By adopting measures that give us greater ability to limit the impact of roadworks, we can better reduce disruption for residents and support our economy. We have a duty to manage activity across the road network and keep Hampshire moving, while coordinating the essential work needed to maintain and upgrade our county’s infrastructure - but our current powers are limited. Road users, residents and businesses have felt the impact of a sharp rise in roadworks, and we know how frustrating this can be, particularly on our busiest routes. A lane rental scheme will provide a strong incentive for organisations to plan, work efficiently, and minimise disruption. It will also generate welcome additional funding that can be reinvested into delivering further road improvements across Hampshire. The proposal must now be agreed by the Department for Transport, and we hope to secure consent to introduce the scheme later this year.” 
 
The County Council agreed in January 2025 to progress plans for a lane rental scheme, which would complement the existing road permitting system. A final proposal on how the scheme would operate includes which roads are considered to be the busiest.  
 
Charges would vary depending on the type and level of disruption caused by the works. After the recovery of operational costs, 50% of the income generated will be reinvested into routine highway maintenance, including day-to-day repairs such as fixing potholes. The remaining revenue generated is ringfenced to fund innovative projects aimed at reducing the impact of street and roadworks.  
 
Lane rental schemes are already in place in several parts of the UK, and they must comply with national legislation. Charges can only be applied to the most highly trafficked roads managed by the highway authority and under current legislation, the County Council would be permitted to charge up to £2,500 per day - the maximum allowed.  
 
View the Decision Day report.