Aylesbury Conservatives welcome new plans that will see tougher action taken to reduce delays and congestion caused by roadworks on the county’s busiest roads.
Following approval from the Government, Buckinghamshire Council will implement a new Lane Rental Scheme,known as Lane Rental: Streets Ahead, to tackle the day-to-day disruption that residents and businesses experience from poorly timed or prolonged roadworks.
The scheme allows the Council to charge utility companies and contractors up to £2,500 per day for carrying out works on key parts of the road network during peak times. The aim is simple: encourage better planning, smarter scheduling, and quicker completion of essential works – with less disruption for drivers.
The scheme is set to go live in spring 2026 and will apply to around 7.8% of Buckinghamshire’s road network, approximately 500 roads and streets with the highest traffic flow or strategic importance.
👷 Smarter Planning, Quicker Roads
The Conservative-led Council is already using a permit scheme to coordinate works. Lane Rental: Streets Ahead builds on this by providing a stronger financial incentive for companies to avoid peak-time disruption.
Money raised through the scheme will first cover operational costs. Any surplus will go into a ringfenced Streets Ahead Investment Fund – to be reinvested directly into local projects that reduce roadworks-related disruption, helping to deliver long-term, visible benefits for residents.
🛣️ What Residents Can Expect:
- 🚦 Fewer roadworks at peak times and on key routes
- ⏱️ Faster completion of works through better coordination
- 🚗 More reliable journeys and less congestion
- 🤝 Greater collaboration between utilities and contractors
🗣️ What Local Leaders Are Saying
Cllr Steven Broadbent, Leader of Buckinghamshire Council, said:
“Residents tell us congestion and disruption are among the biggest frustrations when it comes to our roads. This scheme tackles that head-on. By incentivising smarter planning and off-peak working, it will cut delays, reduce queues and make journeys more reliable.
‘Lane Rental: Streets Ahead’ puts the onus on utility companies to plan around people – not the other way round. It will cut delays and keep Buckinghamshire moving.”
Cllr Thomas Broom, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Transport, added:
“Buckinghamshire Council has consistently pressed the Government for stronger local powers to manage roadworks and minimise disruption. The approval of our Lane Rental Scheme marks real progress and puts Buckinghamshire on the front foot in tackling roadworks chaos.
This scheme complements our permit system and will drive a step-change in how works are planned and delivered. By encouraging off-peak working and better coordination, we can keep our roads safer, more reliable and more efficient for all road users.”
