Lane rental scheme
Lambeth Council has announced plans to implement a lane rental scheme on 19.9% of its road network as part of efforts to reduce traffic congestion, improve journey reliability, and lower vehicle emissions.
The scheme, which builds on the council’s statutory duty under the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA), will charge for works conducted on the borough’s busiest streets during peak traffic hours.
The proposed lane rental scheme targets high-traffic areas, encouraging undertakers to schedule work outside peak hours or adopt more efficient methods.
The scheme aligns with Lambeth’s 2030 Our Borough Plan, which prioritises climate resilience.
By reducing road congestion, the scheme aims to:
- cut emissions from idling vehicles
- improve air quality
- enhance public transport reliability.
Making the best use of our road network is vital for Lambeth. Our roads facilitate the transport of people and goods, provide access to homes, businesses and other destinations, and provide public space where people shop, socialise or relax. Under the road surface lies essential infrastructure for the communications and services that underpin our lives.
Lambeth Council has a legal duty to manage, maintain and improve the road network, including managing its use and the activities taking place on it which includes street works and road works.
The council has a range of powers and duties under which they maintain and improve the network, as well as managing its use and the activities taking place on it.
In 2012, the council introduced a permit scheme, which saw a progressive increase in the ability to manage and coordinate works to minimise disruption.
A lane rental scheme will complement this permit scheme by providing greater financial incentive to encourage organisations to improve their planning and delivery to work outside of peak times and reduce the duration of their work.
A lane rental scheme, applied to our busiest roads, should therefore reduce any additional disruption and causation or increase in congestion both on the carriageway and footway.
Why we are consulting
In accordance with government guidance, any highway authority making an application to the Secretary of State to operate lane rental will need to have carried out a full consultation on the draft scheme.
The purpose of the consultation is to seek views and clarifications from those potentially affected by the introduction of a lane rental scheme and other interested parties.
Responses to the consultation will be considered by the council to determine whether any changes will be required before it makes an application through the Secretary of State for Transport.
How you can get involved
If you wish to see Lambeth’s plans to introduce a scheme and respond to the consultation, please contact the council by emailing lanerental@lambeth.gov.uk for further information.
The consultation will run from Monday 20 January 2025 and close on Friday 28 February 2025 at 4pm.