FAQs
What is a lane rental scheme?
Lane rental is a government scheme designed to encourage behavioural change for those carrying out works on the highway to help minimise congestion and delays. This is done by applying a charge for the time companies occupy certain roads on the network during busy times, such as rush hour.
This sits alongside East Sussex Highways permit scheme.
What are the goals of lane rental schemes?
To lane rental scheme aims to:
- reduce road disruption
- improve journey reliability
- speed up project completions and reduce the length of time works are onsite but don’t have anyone working on them
- improve planning, coordination, and working methods
- Encourage work outside of peak periods
- Encourage reinstatement of the highway following works to be done to the required standard.
Who can implement lane rental schemes?
Local highway authorities in England, with approval from the Secretary of State for Transport.
How are charges calculated?
Charges are based on the time a company occupies a road, and the road's type and traffic levels. For East Sussex the daily charges are:
- For a lane closure; £1,500
- For a road closure; £2,500
East Sussex County Council retains the option to waive or reduce lane rental charges at its discretion and consideration will be given to reducing charges for major works that:
- deliver significant highway infrastructure improvements
- substantially extend/renew the longevity of an asset
- future proof a highway to protect it from being excavated again
How do I apply to the scheme?
There is no separate application process for this scheme. The East Sussex Highways street works management system will automatically identify streets that are included in the lane rental scheme. S50 and S278 applications should follow the usual application process.
What are the benefits of lane rental schemes?
To reduce the duration of roadworks, encourage companies to work at less busy times and to work collaboratively to minimise the impact on the network. Ultimately the goal of the lane rental scheme is to minimise disruption to the residents and travelling public of East Sussex.
What Roads would the charge apply to?
The list of roads currently included in the lane rental network is available on the previous page.
Where does the money go from this scheme?
The aim of the lane rental scheme is to drive behavioural change and reduce congestion on the network. However, there will always be cases where the charge is unavoidable and in this case the money from the charges will be reinvested back into the highway network.
After costs, a minimum of 50% of money from the scheme charges will be put back into highway maintenance and the remainder can be applied towards initiatives and projects that align with the objectives of the lane rental scheme, for example:
- Investments in innovation and developing new disruption saving products, services or techniques.
- Trials of new disruption saving products or techniques.
- Transportation initiatives.
- Installing infrastructure to enable apparatus to be accessed without disruption.
- Measures to improve noise, pollution or safety relating to activities.
- Measures to mitigate congestion and disruption caused by activities, particularly major projects.
- Enabling infrastructure supports.
Why isn’t all the money being used to mend potholes?
Although in East Sussex, the majority of the money will be spent on highway maintenance, including mending potholes and other works to prevent deterioration of the highway network, some of the money will be invested in other projects that will reduce disruption and improve the highway as well.
Money will go on a range of projects that improve the way works are done or move pipes etc out of the road, so it doesn’t need to be dug up again, or to build new infrastructure. We will look at all applications for this money and ensure it delivers real benefits to the residents and those using the highway network in East Sussex.
What works are included?
All works, including East Sussex Highways own works and developer works, are subject to lane rental charges.
Does this mean I have to pay more council tax to cover East Sussex Highways works lane rental costs?
No, the charges are an operational cost on those working on the highway.
If you’re spending money on lane rental charges, does this mean there’s less to pay for repairs?
Although some East Sussex Highways work may incur a charge, the overall result of the scheme is an increase in the money being spent on the highway in East Sussex.
Who else has implemented the scheme?
Lane rental schemes have also been implemented in Surrey, West Sussex and Kent and trialled in Transport for London. Other counties across the country and going through implementation currently as well.
Will this mean there will be more works carried out at night?
Some works are already undertaken in the evening and overnight, and this has generally been successful.
There may be some more works that are undertaken in to the evening and overnight when the roads are at their quietest, greatly reducing disruption which is the main goal of the scheme.
These works will only be agreed to if the potential impacts on those who live near the road are fully considered and managed.
What about emergency works?
Emergency works, also known as ‘immediate works’ that must be carried out during the lane rental chargeable period to avoid significant danger to public safety or significant damage to property will be provided with a ‘Lane Rental Charge Free Period’ to enable them to be dealt with.
The free period will apply for 48 hours, after which time the normal lane rental rules for the location will apply.
How can charges be avoided?
To avoid charges, works can be:
- Carried out outside of traffic-sensitive times Monday to Friday
- Carried out at weekends, if the road is not traffic-sensitive then
- Carried out outside of term times when the road is not traffic-sensitive
- Carried out on bank holidays if the road is not traffic-sensitive then
- Confined to a verge or footway, footpath, bridleway, or byway
- Done avoiding the reduction of lanes available to traffic or without any impact on traffic flow
- Done collaboratively with other companies to share a collective charge with a minimum 50% discount