Kirklees Cabinet approves Lane Rental Scheme to minimise roadworks disruption

Kirklees Cabinet has approved plans to move forward with a Lane Rental Scheme. Once in place, the scheme would encourage contractors to conduct roadworks outside of peak times on busy roads. 

Similar schemes have led to improved collaboration between contractors and councils and reduced delays on the roads.  Where contractors cannot avoid works at peak times on key routes, they could be charged up to £2,500. 

Cuncillor Tyler Hawkins, Cabinet Member for Highways and Waste, said:“We all want to see less disruption and delay from roadworks which is exactly what the Lane Rental Scheme will help us to do.

This scheme gives us new tools to encourage better coordination, better planning, and more efficient working between the council, contractors and utility companies – particularly on our most critical routes.

“We are introducing the Lane Rental Schemes alongside neighbouring councils after it has already been shown to be effective in achieving better coordination and cooperation in other areas. I’m excited to see the same here in Kirklees.“This decision comes at a time of big changes as we are seeing lots of investment and improvements to our infrastructure which will bring long term gains for our home. We want to keep things moving as smoothly as possible as we unlock more investment for Kirklees, and the Lane Rental Scheme is a key part of that.”

The council will now submit an application to the Department of Transport. If approved, the scheme would likely be effective in summer 2026.