Kingston Seeks Approval to Fine Utility Firms for Peak-Time Roadworks

The council has applied to the Department for Transport (DfT) to introduce the lane rental scheme in Kingston

Utility companies may soon face hefty daily charges for digging up Kingston’s busiest roads during rush hour, under new plans from Kingston Council.

The authority has formally applied to the Department for Transport (DfT) to introduce a lane rental scheme—a system designed to cut delays and keep traffic moving. If approved, companies could be billed £1,000, £1,500, or even £2,500 per day for carrying out roadworks on key routes during peak periods.

Tackling Disruption Head-On

While Transport for London (TfL) already runs a similar scheme on the capital’s busiest roads under its control, council-owned roads are not currently included. The DfT is now inviting local councils to bring forward their own proposals, with Kingston part of the second wave of applications after the first submissions came from Camden, Enfield, Kensington and Chelsea, and Lambeth.

Council officers believe the scheme would encourage utility companies to schedule work outside peak hours or complete it more swiftly. A report supporting the proposal makes clear that the initiative is not designed to raise money but to reduce disruption:

“Lane rental charges should incentivise work outside of peak times. Charges can be waived for joint projects, and discounts or caps applied to major works, to ensure essential infrastructure upgrades are not unfairly delayed.”

What Happens Next?

The DfT is expected to review Kingston’s bid early next year. If given the green light, the council could roll out the scheme later in 2025, making it significantly more costly for companies to disrupt traffic at the busiest times of day.