What is lane rental?
Lane rental is a scheme designed toreduce traffic congestion, minimise disruptions to bus routes, and keep pavements clearer. It does this by charging utility companies and contractors for carrying out roadworks on our busiest streets during peak times, encouraging smarter planning and faster delivery.
Under current legislation, utility companies have the right to dig up roads to maintain or upgrade their infrastructure. The lane rental scheme doesn't remove that right, but it does introduce a financial charge for the disruption caused, incentivising companies to work more efficiently and with less impact on residents.
Think of it as a planning incentive rather than a penalty: a way to encourage better coordination and smarter scheduling.
The scheme encourages companies to:
- complete works more quickly
- plan more efficiently to reduce disruption
- work during quieter times when possible
- coordinate better with other companies
Reinvesting in our highways
Revenue from the scheme will be reinvested directly into maintaining and improving our roads, ensuring they remain safe, reliable, and fit for purpose.
Funds will be used to:
- fix potholes and repair road surfaces
- reduce road congestion
- develop and deploy new traffic management technologies.
It's a win-win: less disruption from roadworks, and better roads for everyone in H&F.
Cllr Florian Chevoppe-Verdier, H&F Cabinet Member for Public Realm, said:
“We’re taking action to keep H&F moving and championing a smarter future for roadworks. With the lane rental scheme, we’re incentivising utility companies to make use of better planning tools and modern technology to carry out works more efficiently and with less disruption to residents. It’s about working together to make everyday journeys smoother and more predictable for everyone, helping people get to work, home, and appointments with ease and confidence.”
Where does lane rental apply?
The scheme will apply to 17.1% of the borough's road network, targeting our busiest and most sensitive streets where roadworks cause the greatest disruption to residents, businesses, and traffic flow.
You can view the affected streets on our interactive map
Charges and peak times
Daily charges range from £1,000 to £2,500, depending on the road's sensitivity level.
Charges apply during:
- Weekdays: 7am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm (highest band: 7am to 7pm)
- Weekends: 7am to 10am and 3pm to 7pm
Next steps
As required, we're currently engaging with utility companies, contractors, and stakeholders, including Transport for London, to ensure the scheme works effectively for everyone.
Following consultation, we aim to submit our application to the Department for Transport in October 2025, with the scheme expected to launch in 2026.