The council is seeking to introduce a Lane Rental Scheme on some of its road network, to help manage the impact of works on the highway network, which will reduce delays for residents and businesses and raise revenue which will be reinvested into upgrading and protecting our road.

The scheme will allow the council to charge for works conducted on Southampton’s busiest roads during peak hours, encouraging companies to schedule work outside of peak hours, or adopt more efficient ways of working to reduce the time it takes to travel.

Residents and businesses will benefit as it will reduce congestion and make it easier and quicker to travel around. This will then result in improving air quality due to vehicles not idling and enhance public transport reliability.

As part of the plans for the Lane Rental Scheme, the council is currently consulting on the proposals and is seeking views from those potentially affected by the introduction of a Lane Rental Scheme and other interested parties. The consultation is currently live for people to have their say until Thursday 6 March.

To implement the scheme, the council must secure approval from the Department for Transport (DfT). Responses to the consultation will be considered by the council to determine whether any changes will be required before it makes an application to the DfT.

The council’s proposed Lane Rental Scheme is in accordance with the Street Works (Charges for Occupation of the Highway) (England) Regulations 2012 (the Lane Rental Regulations) made under Section 74A.