West Yorkshire councils to adopt Lane Rental Schemes

Three councils in West Yorkshire have combined to become the sixth set of local authorities to have Lane Rental Schemes, under which companies carrying out works on roads and streets can be charged up to £2,500 per day for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times.

A lane rental scheme allows a local highway authority to charge works promoters for the time that street and road works occupy the highway. Lane rental allows a highway authority to charge up to £2,500 per day for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times. It helps to minimise disruption and charges apply to works promoted by both utility companies and highway authorities.

Schemes need to be approved by the Secretary of State for Transport before they can become operational. Five schemes are already in operation – at Transport for London and Kent, Surrey, West Sussex and East Susses councils.

Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees Councils have worked together and each secured Department for Transport approval for their schemes, which will come into force later this calendar year.

Along with adopting a consistent approach to charging and common principles, the three councils are launching their schemes simultaneously to make it easier for organisations when applying to carry out works. The consistent approach will also help iron out any issues where works may need to be carried out near to council boundaries and affect road users travelling across more than one area.

As well as reducing disruption and delays during peak times, the schemes should help reduce carbon emissions while also improving the reliability of public transport by protecting key bus routes.

Councillor Peter Carlill, Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning, said: “We are always working hard to keep the city moving and minimise disruption, looking to co-ordinate works as best we can. Using a Lane Rental Scheme gives us more power and more options by being able to levy charges to encourage better and more efficient behaviour from those working in our roads, so that residents face less disruption and delay as they move around the city.

“Co-ordinating the introduction of our schemes with our neighbouring councils also ensures a fairness and consistency of approach, which is mindful of how works in one council area can have a wider impact on surrounding communities.”