Redbridge Council is considering implementing a lane rental scheme to minimise traffic disruption from roadworks. The proposal, discussed at a recent cabinet meeting, would allow the council to charge utility companies, developers, third-party contractors, and even council contractors for occupying the most traffic-sensitive streets during peak hours. The council estimates the scheme could generate around £3.967m per year based on existing permit data.
The Redbridge Lane Rental Scheme aims to incentivise works promoters to plan their activities outside of busy times and complete them as quickly as possible. The council hopes this will reduce delays for road users and support its Sustainable Transport Strategy.
The proposed daily charge levels are:
- High charge: £2,500 per day
- Medium charge: £1,500 per day
- Low charge: £1,000 per day
The scheme would apply to roads categorised as high, medium, and low charge based on their usage. A list of the specific streets included in each charge band is available in Appendix B of the Public Reports Pack. The council anticipates that the scheme will prompt significant behaviour change, resulting in a reduction in the number of works taking place during the busiest times of the day on the Redbridge Lane Rental network.
The council has conducted a consultation with stakeholders, including Transport for London (TfL), on the implementation of the scheme. According to the council report, the Lane Rental Scheme would help the council meet its network management duty by encouraging works promoters to:
- Reduce the length of time taken to carry out the works.
- Improve planning, coordination, and working methods.
- Identify and take forward opportunities for collaborative working with other works promoters.
- Carry out more works outside of peak times, making greater use of off peak working where the local environmental impact is acceptable.
- Complete work to the required standard first time reducing the need for the works promoter to return to the site to carry out remedial work.
Recent changes in legislation would allow the council to ringfence 50% of surplus funds for highway maintenance and pothole repairs.
The cabinet is recommended to delegate authority to the Director of Neighbourhoods and Environmental Services to submit an application to the Secretary of State for Transport for an order to bring the Lane Rental Scheme into legal effect. The cabinet is also recommended to delegate authority to the Cabinet Member for the Environment and Sustainability to approve the implementation of the scheme, subject to the Secretary of State's approval.
