Consultation and engagement

Consultation on Proposed Liverpool Lane Rental Scheme

Start date: 9th November
End date: 20th December

What are we consulting on?

In accordance with the Lane Rental Schemes: Guidance for English Highway Authorities issued by the Department for Transport on the 17 March 2024, Liverpool City Council is entering a period of public consultation.  

A lane rental scheme is a UK government-regulated framework that allows local highway authorities to charge works promoters a daily fee for occupying the busiest roads with roadworks during peak hours. 

The main aim of lane rental is to reduce congestion and the impact of works on the busiest roads at the busiest time on road users with charges targeted at encouraging those engaged in works to reduce congestion by, for example, carrying them out: 

  • at different times
  • at different locations
  • jointly with other works
  • using less disruptive working methods, for example, no dig technologies 

As part of developing a lane rental scheme Liverpool City Council are required to consult with stakeholders; providing detailed scheme information such as: 

  • list of streets that will be subject to lane rental changes
  • the proposed charging regime
  • the evaluation approach
  • the cost–benefit analysis 

Why are we consulting on a proposed lane rental scheme? 

The New Roads and Street Works Act 1991 (“NRSWA”) and the Traffic Management Act 2004 (“TMA”) place a duty on the Highway Authority to co-ordinate street and highway works, and more generally to facilitate the expeditious movement of traffic, called the "Network Management Duty". 

It is the Highway Authority’s responsibility to ensure that it makes appropriate use of the available powers to deliver the duty, recognising that different tools are appropriate in different situations. 

One of Liverpool City Council's key objectives is to support the effective operation of key public transport routes by limiting the impact of works and congestion.

The introduction of lane rental scheme could encourage behavioural change in the execution of street works on the highway, by encouraging reduced activity during peak times, the adoption of more innovative methods of working and/or increasing collaboration resulting in less disruption benefitting residents, businesses and visitors to the area. 

Documents we are consulting on

How to comment

If you would like to comment on the proposed Liverpool lane rental scheme, please complete our online survey.

Complete our online survey on the proposed lane rental scheme

What happens to my views?

Following the 6-week formal consultation all responses will be reviewed and responded to with a consultation response document and next steps shared. 

Once the consultation closes, responses will be accessed by a restricted team of Liverpool City Council and consultant (GeoPlace) staff only.  The responses will only be used to inform Liverpool City Council’s proposed lane rental scheme. The responses will be published and sent out, in a consultation report which is expected to be released in December 2026.  

All comments and responses will be included in the report, but this will be done anonymously with only the organisation represented identified.  

The data from this consultation will be kept securely for a maximum of 12 months and then destroyed.  More information can be found in the Liverpool City Council and GeoPlace privacy notice. 

Further information

For more information please email Streetworks@liverpool.gov.uk.