Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, Whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on the potential impact of overrunning highway road works on the economy.

Utility street works are needed to install and update the vital infrastructure on which we all rely, including for broadband and to install EV chargepoints. Permits are needed from the relevant highway authority before works begin on local roads. Authorities can impose charges of up to £10,000 per day for works that overrun the period allowed by the permit during weekdays, which reflect the costs of congestion caused by overrunning works.

Authorities are also able to introduce and operate lane rental schemes. As part of these, utility companies may need to pay charges of up to £2,500 per day for works on the busiest roads at the busiest times, unless they move the works to less busy roads or carry them out at less busy times.