Lancashire Explores Lane Rental Scheme to Reduce Roadwork Disruption

Lancashire County Council is considering measures to reduce the impact of roadworks on the county’s busiest routes, with a Lane Rental Scheme under serious review.

The government-backed initiative is designed to minimise disruption caused by roadworks on key roads during peak travel times. Under such a scheme, companies carrying out works would pay a daily charge for each day they occupy a section of road during peak hours, while no charge would apply for off-peak work.

The scheme aims to encourage smarter planning, better coordination, and scheduling works at quieter times. Any revenue generated would be reinvested into improving Lancashire’s highway network, in line with government requirements.

A feasibility study is currently assessing whether a Lane Rental Scheme is suitable for Lancashire. This includes identifying the most congested routes and reviewing roads formally classed as traffic sensitive, where roadworks are most likely to cause major disruption.

A decision on whether to proceed with the scheme is expected in early 2026, with a potential application to the Department for Transport to follow. If approved, utility companies and other stakeholders would be consulted before implementation.

Cllr Warren Goldsworthy, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, said:

“We know how frustrating roadworks and congestion can be. That’s why we’re exploring whether a Lane Rental Scheme could help reduce disruption across our road network. Lane Rental Schemes don’t stop roadworks – but they do encourage smarter planning, off-peak scheduling, and better coordination to keep traffic moving.“No decisions have been made – we’re simply exploring whether this approach could work for Lancashire before making a considered choice that’s driven by the data.”