New plans to charge £2,500 a day for road closures

Temporary traffic lights in Southampton city centre were in place for nearly six months in 2024

Southampton City Council has released new plans to charge operators for road closures after an initial application was rejected by the government in May.

Dubbed the "lane rental scheme," operators would have to pay charges of up to £2,500 per day and a new consultation is under way on a revised scheme that would include 67 roads in the city.

The first application was refused by the Department for Transport (DfT) because the scheme surpassed the guidelines that state plans should not affect more than 10% of the network at any one time.

Christie Lambert, the council's deputy leader and transport cabinet member, said the authority had taken on board feedback from the DfT and made adjustments.

The scheme, which is currently under consultation until 10 September, would see daily charges of £2,500 for a full road closure and £1,500 for a lane closure or temporary traffic lights.

Under the new proposals, discounts would be offered in specified circumstances, including major infrastructure improvements or if operators collaborate to reduce the overall length of time closures or temporary lights are in place.

Lambert said, "Subject to further approvals to proceed with the second application in October, we hope the DfT will fully consider and assess our revised application and we are committed to working with the DfT to address any further feedback or questions that may arise in due course."

Balfour Beatty Living Places is contracted by the council to manage 594km (369 miles) of roads in the city

The council would charge its own contractor Balfour Beatty and utility firms for roadworks undertaken at peak times, claiming it will encourage quicker completion and avoid disruption.

Charges would apply on busy commuter roads during weekdays from 06:00-19:00, and weekends between 10:00 and 16:00.

The council estimates the scheme would raise an annual income of £374,000, although it has confirmed some of that will come from its own highway works projects.

There is an initial set up fee of £73,043, followed by an annual operating cost of £123,000.

The revised application will be submitted to the DfT for assessment in October and a decision should be reached by 16 January 2026.