Road closure permits on the rise in Surrey

Requests from utility works to carry out works in Surrey are amongst the highest in the UK.

The number of permits issued to temporarily shut roads in Surrey has risen by more than 50% in the last five years.

A BBC Freedom of Information request to Surrey County Council (SCC) showed that in 2020-21 there were 1,197 closures for utilities works, and this jumped to 1,866 in 2024-25.

The council said it was working with companies to improve traffic management and communication with residents.

Streetworks UK, the trade association for utilities companies, said it was "engaging constructively with highways authorities" across the country.

Matt Furniss, cabinet member for highways, transport and economic growth at SCC, said demands from firms, including those which provide electricity, gas and water services, in Surrey were amongst the highest in the UK, with 88 works starting every day in the last 12 months.

"Whilst we recognise that works on the highway carried out by utility companies are necessary, these works are all too often impacting negatively on Surrey road users," he said.

"We're working with utility companies to drive better traffic management, better coordination, and better resident communication, and I'm pleased that they are supportive of our key proposals to improve the management of emergency works.

"We've also introduced a lane rental scheme where we charge organisations for the time their roadworks create delays on the highway during peak hours on busy roads, to encourage faster project completion and off-peak work schedules, to reduce disruption."

Clive Bairsto CBE, CEO of Street Works UK, said the trade association was "engaging constructively" with highways authorities to deliver infrastructure works "whilst giving customers and road users the speed of delivery, lack of congestion, and transparency they expect".

A spokesperson for the Department for Transport said: "We know roadworks can be frustrating for drivers, which is why we are cracking down on utility companies and increasing fines for them if their works overrun or they fail to leave roads in a good condition.

"As well as this local authorities already have a range of powers to help them coordinate their roadworks efficiently and advanced notice of live and planned road works."