UK councils secure DfT approval for lane rental schemes

In supporting both authorities to develop their individual schemes, GeoPlace’s Critical Highway Routes Identification Service (Chris) analysed key highway data to identify the parts of their networks most affected by congestion and disruption. By bringing fragmented datasets together, Chris provides a transparent, evidence-based foundation for developing smarter traffic management schemes such as lane rental. It can reduce months of manual analysis to weeks, freeing teams to focus on scheme modelling and documentation, while providing consistent, high-quality evidence to support decisions and reduce the risk of challenges during consultation. 

For Durham County Council, the approved scheme supports the council’s ambition to reduce congestion caused by road and street works while encouraging utility companies and contractors to plan works more effectively, minimise occupation of the highway and collaborate wherever possible.

“The lane rental scheme is a fantastic step towards reducing congestion, delays and drivers’ frustration,” said councillor Tim McGuinness, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for rural, farming and transport. “It will help improve traffic flow and minimise the time road closures are in place, as well as incentivising collaboration and efficient working, while hopefully discouraging the opposite.

“We know just how frustrating road works can be for our residents – but we also know how important it is to improve our transport network, infrastructure and maintain and renew essential services”

“This will help oil the wheels of Durham’s economy by reducing lost time due to delays and disruption to businesses. The reduced vehicle idling times should also have a positive impact on reducing air pollution.

 “We hope residents in County Durham see a big difference on their roads in the coming years.”

For Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council, alongside reducing disruption, the approved scheme promotes collaborative working and innovation, with opportunities to reduce or waive lane rental charges where organisations demonstrate good performance, adopt innovative working practices or work collaboratively to minimise disruption.

“We know just how frustrating road works can be for our residents – but we also know how important it is to improve our transport network, infrastructure and maintain and renew essential services,” said councillor Andy Hadley, BCP Council’s portfolio holder for highways.

“These new powers are a really significant step forward and have been proven to work in other areas across the country.”

“As the first local authority in the South West to be implementing these powers, I am really pleased that our application has been given the go-ahead and our officers will now get to work on the finer details before they come into effect next spring.”

Richard Groombridge, strategic product and data development manager at GeoPlace, added: “Lane rental is about much more than charging for space on the highway, it is about using evidence to change how street and road works are planned and delivered.

“Our work with Durham and BCP Councils shows how authoritative location data and detailed network analysis can identify where intervention will have the greatest impact, helping councils develop proportionate schemes that reduce disruption, improve journey reliability and encourage better collaboration across the street works sector.”

As more local authorities consider lane rental as part of their wider network management strategy, GeoPlace continues to support councils in developing robust, data-driven proposals that satisfy national requirements while helping reduce congestion, improve journey reliability and encourage more efficient management of England’s highways.

GeoPlace manages the National Address Gazetteer infrastructure and National Street Gazetteer, providing authoritative information about properties and streets across Great Britain. It also supports local authorities to make better use of location data through data, consultancy, training and specialist services.

GeoPlace’s Critical Highway Routes Identification Service or Chris brings together highway, traffic and street works data to identify the routes and locations where disruption has the greatest impact. It provides an evidence base to support network management decisions, including the development of lane rental Schemes.