On Friday 20th December, the Government published its response to the ‘Streetworks: fines and lane rental surplus funds’ consultation that closed earlier this year.

This response outlines the Department for Transport’s decision to implement all the proposals set out in the consultation, as part of its broader agenda to reduce “disruption caused by street works” and boost infrastructure as part of its Plan for Change.

The Government confirmed it will take forward the following reforms:

• Requiring at least 50% of any surplus lane rental funds to be spent on highway maintenance
• Doubling the level of fixed penalty notices that can be issued for 5 street works offences
• Allowing overrun charges, applied under section 74 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, to apply at weekends and bank holidays
• Allowing highway authorities to issue FPNs for late submission of works start and stop notices at weekends and bank holidays

The Department for Transport (DfT) has highlighted that these reforms aim to reduce congestion, improve the quality of highway maintenance, and ensure lane rental schemes remain targeted at reducing disruption on the busiest roads during peak times

Street Works UK’s position

Street Works UK acknowledges the Government’s publication and the significance of its decision to proceed with the proposals. The arguments put forward by our SWUK consultation response in opposition to the proposals are echoed in the DfT’s response. Despite indicating cut-through of our messaging, the government has unfortunately decided to press ahead with proposals given the substantial support from a spectrum of respondents.

Responding to the Government’s publication, Clive Bairsto, Chief Executive of Street Works UK said: “While we note the publication of the Government’s response to the ‘Streetworks: fines and lane rental surplus funds’ consultation, the proposals the government has decided to proceed with will have significant impacts on the street works sector and the services we seek to maintain. For example, expanding the lane rental scheme could compromise the quality and standards of streetworks, while increased Fixed Penalty Notices will raise operating costs for utility companies without significantly improving compliance, hindering their ability to invest in vital upgrades.

Street Works UK looks forward to working with the government on the effective implementation of these proposals, ensuring that our members can continue carrying out the critical work that connects communities to essential services, while working to the highest standards to minimise disruptions and ensure high quality and lasting results.”

Next steps

Street Works UK remains committed to representing the interests of the street works sector and engaging with key stakeholders to address the implications of these changes. Planned actions include:

• Providing written and oral evidence to the Transport Select Committee inquiry into Managing the impact of street works to highlight unintended negative consequences for the utilities sector.
• Engaging with DfT officials, for clarity on implementation timelines and detailed discussions at the upcoming meeting in January 2025. We will be arranging a webinar in January to share a read out from officials on what this means for the sector.
• Writing to relevant Ministers to advocate for an open dialogue on how these changes impact the sector and explore collaborative solutions.

These steps underscore Street Works UK’s commitment to safeguarding the interests of its members while contributing to policies that support our nation’s future infrastructure.​

Please do reach out to the SWUK secretariat team at info@streetworks.org.uk to raise any issues or concerns.