New powers have been approved to reduce roadwork disruption on the busiest routes across BCP.
The Local Lane Rental Scheme allows BCP Council to impose daily charges for council and contractor works, encouraging them to be scheduled at quieter times, completed more quickly and coordinated with other projects where possible.
Income will be ringfenced to operate the scheme, while 50% of any surplus must be invested in road maintenance and further measures intended to reduce the disruption caused by work on the highway network.
More than 75% of people responding to the public consultation supported the proposals, before the Transport Secretary formally approved the council’s detailed application in June 2026.
Councillor Andy Hadley, the council’s portfolio holder for highways, called the approval “a really significant step forward” and said officers would now work on the finer details before the scheme starts next spring.
BCP Council will be the first South West authority to introduce the powers, which it says have reduced congestion and shortened roadworks in the small number of other areas already using them.
