Redbridge Lane Rental Scheme
Our Lane Rental Scheme has been approved by Simon Lightwood, Minister for Buses, and Roads. We plan to introduce the scheme on Monday 11 January 2027, following a four-week trial.
Our Lane Rental trial will run from Monday 9 November 2026 to Monday 7 December 2026.
The scheme will apply to the most traffic-sensitive parts of Redbridge’s road network, covering around 11.9% of the borough’s roads, and is designed to reduce disruption caused by roadworks, improve journey reliability, and support cleaner air and healthier streets.
What is Lane Rental
Lane rental allows us to charge utility companies and contractors for working on the busiest roads at the busiest times. The aim is to reduce traffic disruption by encouraging better planning and quicker roadworks.
The scheme operates alongside our existing permit scheme, which has been in place since 2010.
A lane rental scheme will complement this permit scheme by providing greater financial incentive to encourage organisations to improve their planning and delivery to work outside of peak times and reduce the duration of their work.
Our Lane Rental work
Details of our Lane Rental Scheme network are available on this interactive map.
ESRI shapefiles are available on request. Requests should be sent to networkmanagement@redbridge.gov.uk
How the scheme works
A daily charge applies for works on traffic-sensitive streets during peak times. Higher charges encourage works to take place at quieter times or to be completed more quickly.
Charges and discounts
Daily charges range from £1,000 to £2,500.
Discounts of up to 100% may be available for works that deliver significant improvements, nationally important projects, or schemes that reduce future disruption.
Benefits of the scheme
Lane rental helps to:
- reduce traffic congestion on Redbridge’s busiest streets
- shorten the duration of roadworks
- improve journey times and bus reliability
- reduce vehicle idling and emissions
- improve air quality
- make better use of limited road space
- fund road and street work improvements
Operational guidance
The London Borough Lane Rental Scheme Operational Guide (PDF, 1.92MB) provides all the information you need to understand how our scheme operates. This PDF is not fully accessible. If you need this information in a different format, contact networkmanagement@redbridge.gov.uk
The guidance also includes information on the circumstances where waivers and reductions to daily charges may be considered, as well as details of where exemptions to charges apply.
How to apply for a waiver
You may be able to have the lane rental charges waived.
Details on how to apply for a waiver will be available soon.
Use of income
From Monday 5 January 2026, new street works regulations set out how income from our Lane Rental Scheme will be used:
- 50% of the revenue will be reinvested directly into highway maintenance across the borough
- 50% will be allocated to our Lane Rental Fund, supporting initiatives that promote innovation, improve efficiency, and reduce disruption on Redbridge’s road network
