New Oxfordshire lane rental scheme comes into force in May

by Kevin Borras

The length of time spent on roadworks is to be targeted when Oxfordshire becomes the latest local authority to introduce a lane rental scheme (LRS). Oxfordshire County Council applied for the scheme in 2023 and the LRS was approved by the government last November, allowing the authority to charge up to £2,500 per day for work on the busiest roads at peak traffic times.

Roads included in the Oxfordshire scheme, which begins on 5 May, are listed on the council’s website.

Councillor Andrew Gant, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport Management, said:

“It is in everyone’s interests for utility companies to minimise the impact their work has on our highway network, and a lane rental scheme is one way to achieve this.

“If they know they are going to be charged for the length of time they spend there, it is an incentive to complete the job as swiftly as possible. We look forward to being able to implement it and reap the benefits for everyone in Oxfordshire.”

Charges will apply during peak periods, including weekends and bank holidays, except on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Emergency safety repairs are granted a 48 hour grace period.

The LRS incentivises those working on the highway to prioritise off peak hours and to complete the work as quickly as possible to reduce their costs.

It also encourages greater use of new technology to speed up the work and more collaboration between promoters where costs can be shared.

Any surplus money raised by the council will be used to help manage and improve the highway network.

The council has been operating a permit scheme for road and street works since 2020 and receives about 30,000 requests a year. These requests are coordinated, inspected and enforced to reduce the impact on the travelling public.

However, the permit scheme – which will continue to operate – only allows council costs to be recovered and, unlike LRS, doesn’t allow the council to impose specific charges to discourage those requesting to work on the busiest roads at the busiest times.

(Picture: Yay Images)