Companies working on busy roads in West Yorkshire can now face charges up to £2,500 a day if their works take place during peak hours. The lane rental scheme started on 5 October 2026 and applies to Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees council areas. It affects all works promoters, including the councils themselves.
How lane rental works in West Yorkshire
The scheme targets specific key routes at designated times, not the entire highway network. It aims to minimise disruption by encouraging works to be scheduled outside the busiest periods. The councils intend to reduce traffic delays and improve reliability along major roads, particularly on bus routes.
Leeds City Council provides detailed guidance and an interactive lane rental map online. The approach runs alongside the existing permit system used for street works, including Section 50 and Section 278 processes. There is no separate application for lane rental charges; these are incorporated into the usual permit requests.
Charges are designed to be avoidable. Better planning, collaboration between works promoters and less disruptive working methods can reduce or eliminate fees. Councils may also waive or reduce charges in specific cases.
Applying the charges equally
West Yorkshire's councils apply the lane rental fees to works they carry out or commission themselves. This policy is intended to demonstrate their commitment to reducing disruption on their own roads. Leeds said it will follow the same charging rules and principles for internal projects.
Any surplus revenue generated from the scheme will be reinvested to support highway maintenance and schemes that reduce disruption. Leeds plans to publish further information about the surplus funds and its governance in due course.
Collaboration across councils and benefits
Leeds, Wakefield and Kirklees coordinated their schemes and secured approval from the Department for Transport. This consistency makes it simpler for contractors working near council boundaries. It also helps manage disruption on cross-authority routes.
The councils say the charges encourage organisations to plan works more efficiently, reducing delays and emissions. The scheme supports improved network management and aims to protect the reliability of public transport on key corridors.
Leeds City Council’s executive member for transport and planning, Councillor Tom Hinchcliffe, said: “It’s vital that we keep the city moving. That’s why we have introduced our lane rental scheme, which encourages more efficient behaviour from those working in our roads.”
He added that charging companies for peak-time works, which could be done at less disruptive times, “is the right thing to do”.
Exemptions and exceptions
The lane rental charges do not apply to event road closures such as the Rob Burrow Marathon and the Leeds Abbey Dash. This allows for planned temporary disruptions linked to significant local events without extra fees.
