TfL Expands Lane Rental Scheme to Cut Congestion Across London

Transport for London is significantly expanding its Lane Rental scheme, with one-third of London's boroughs set to operate under the anti-congestion programme by autumn 2026.

The move is expected to improve journey reliability, reduce disruption from streetworks and accelerate investment in innovative highway technologies.

Transport for London (TfL) is accelerating the expansion of its Lane Rental scheme, bringing more boroughs into a programme designed to reduce congestion by encouraging utilities and contractors to complete streetworks more efficiently and outside peak traffic periods.

Camden and Merton have become the latest boroughs to introduce the scheme, joining Enfield and Lambeth in charging organisations that carry out disruptive works on the busiest sections of the highway network during the most congested times of day.

A further eight boroughs—Barnet, Hammersmith & Fulham, Havering, Kingston upon Thames, Redbridge, Southwark, Sutton and Tower Hamlets—have now been approved to join by autumn 2026, meaning around one-third of London will soon operate under the expanded Lane Rental programme.

Reducing Disruption Across the Capital

The expansion forms part of TfL's wider London on the Move strategy, which aims to improve journey reliability for motorists, bus passengers, freight operators and businesses by reducing unnecessary disruption caused by roadworks.

Under the scheme, utility companies and contractors can be charged for occupying the busiest roads during peak periods, creating a financial incentive to programme works overnight, collaborate with other organisations and minimise the time roads remain under traffic management.

The approach encourages initiatives such as 'Dig Once', where multiple organisations coordinate works within a single excavation, reducing repeated disruption for road users.

Benefits for Freight and Fleet Operators

For commercial vehicle operators, the expansion is expected to improve journey reliability while reducing delays caused by temporary traffic management.

Fewer daytime lane closures should help cut engine idling, improve fuel efficiency and enable more predictable route planning, delivering operational and environmental benefits across London's logistics sector.

TfL also believes a larger, more consistent Lane Rental network will improve coordination between neighbouring boroughs, allowing highway authorities and utility companies to better plan works that cross administrative boundaries.

Funding Innovation Across London's Roads

Income generated through the Lane Rental scheme is being reinvested into projects aimed at improving the safety, efficiency and resilience of London's highway network.

Among the initiatives already supported are:

• Smart barrier technology capable of detecting damaged or defective temporary traffic management equipment.

• 'Dig Once' collaborative working, helping organisations coordinate streetworks and reduce repeat excavations.

• AI-powered cameras fitted to buses to identify unsafe or unauthorised roadworks and highway obstructions.

• Drone and artificial intelligence inspections of critical infrastructure, reducing the need for disruptive road closures while improving asset monitoring.

• The Road to Net Zero programme, supporting updated design guidance, enhanced training and lower-carbon approaches to highway works.

Greater Powers for the Mayor

The rollout has also been supported by new legislation introduced through the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill.

Subject to the final regulatory changes, the legislation will give the Mayor of London responsibility for determining future Lane Rental applications submitted by London boroughs, streamlining the approval process and helping accelerate further expansion of the scheme from autumn 2026.

Keeping London Moving

Deputy Mayor for Transport Seb Dance said the programme is encouraging organisations to work together, programme works more intelligently and reduce disruption on London's busiest roads.

As the scheme expands across more of the capital, TfL expects the combination of smarter planning, stronger collaboration and continued investment in innovation to deliver a more reliable highway network while helping support economic growth, cleaner transport and safer roadworks for both workers and road users.