Permit Scheme for Road Works and Street Works

Westminster to benefit from London’s new Permit Scheme for Road Works and Street Works

Since January 2010, Westminster City Council, in partnership with 17 other London councils and Transport for London (TfL), have operated, a Permit Scheme which granted Authorities greater powers to ensure consistency and facilitate better co-ordination of Road Works.   

Prior to the Permit Scheme local authorities had limited powers to control where, when and for how long roads were dug up - regardless of the chaos they caused. Since the inception of the scheme, there has been a reduction in the disruption caused by road works in central London because for the first time councils are able to control when road works are undertaken.

Prior to the Scheme, it was estimated there were around one million holes dug in London’s roads each year, with little or no regulation, and most utilities were only required to give short notice of upcoming works and 90 per cent of works were carried out with less than ten days notice to the highway authority. Each year in Westminster alone seven and a half square miles of road are dug up nearly 28,000 times. 

The permits cost the utilities up to £240 per roadwork, and the fees cover the authority's costs giving them more powers so multiple jobs can be carried out at the same time. By law local authorities are not able to profit but just cover their costs.

Fines are given by issuing a fixed penalty without the need to go to courts, meaning any punishment is swifter and less bureaucratic. The council and the Mayor of London have already been working with the utility companies to try to improve the situation.

Whilst still in its early stages, the Scheme has already been delivering benefits to Westminster businesses and residents. The City Council continues to seek further methods of reducing disruptions caused by Road Works to its customers. This would include the currently proposed  "Lane Rental Scheme" which would, if given a green light, further drive down disrutption caused by Road Works on the City's Streets.

A report on the first year of the scheme is currently being prepared and will be published in due course.

For further information on the Street Works issues please see visit our frequently asked questions.