Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees start lane rental charges of up to £2,500 a day

Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees councils launched lane rental schemes on 5 October, charging utilities and other works promoters up to £2,500 a day for working on their busiest roads at peak times.

Leeds City Council, which announced the launch, said the charges also apply to the three councils themselves for any works they carry out or commission.

The council said the schemes are meant to reduce the impact of works and delays by encouraging organisations to schedule works outside peak periods, and to collaborate or work more efficiently.

Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, Leeds City Council's executive member for transport and planning, said: "That's why we have introduced our lane rental scheme, which encourages more efficient behaviour from those working in our roads. This should minimise disruption for residents during the busiest periods."

A joint approach

Each council secured Department for Transport (DfT) approval for its own scheme, according to the announcement, and the three worked together on a consistent approach to charging and on common principles.

Leeds City Council said launching the schemes together would make it easier for organisations applying to carry out works, and would help manage issues where works are needed near council boundaries.

Councillor Hinchcliffe said: "Working with our neighbours in Kirklees and Wakefield not only ensures fairness and consistency but also shows that we are mindful of having any impact on surrounding communities."

The council said the schemes should also help reduce carbon emissions and improve the reliability of public transport by protecting key bus routes.

How the charges work

The DfT defines a lane rental scheme as one that allows a local highway authority to charge works promoters for the time that street and road works occupy the highway. Its guidance for English highway authorities sets the charge at up to £2,500 a day for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times.

That guidance says schemes need approval from the Secretary of State for Transport before they can operate, and that the DfT expects lane rental to cover between 5% and 10% of an authority's network.

In Leeds, charges apply only at specified locations, days and times, according to the council's scheme page. No charges apply on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

Wakefield Council said its scheme applies daily charges to certain works on selected roads and at selected times.

Kirklees Council, in an August 2026 release, described the charges as falling on utility companies that choose to work on key routes at the busiest times. The Leeds announcement said the charges cover utilities, other works promoters and the councils' own works.

Leeds City Council said the charges would not apply to road closures supporting events such as the Rob Burrow Marathon and the Leeds Abbey Dash.

Where the money goes

Kirklees Council said any money raised from its charges will be reinvested in upgrading and maintaining roads. Wakefield Council said surplus income will be reinvested in line with national legislation and guidance.

Background

Kirklees Council's Cabinet approved plans to move forward with a lane rental scheme on 9 September 2025. At that time the council said the scheme, if approved, would likely take effect in summer 2026.

Leeds City Council's announcement gave the launch date for all three schemes as 5 October 2026.