Overview

• The Department for Transport has endorsed the Transport Committee’s findings that utility streetworks are overly disruptive and pledged tougher fines for overruns and substandard reinstatements.
• Councils will gain enhanced coordination powers to oversee permits and schedule streetworks more efficiently under the new measures.
• A £1.6 billion fund has been set aside for local road maintenance this year, targeting up to seven million potholes.
• MPs are awaiting government action to extend utility firms’ reinstatement guarantees from three years to five and to establish an independent streetworks commissioner.
• The reforms include stricter permit regimes, lane rental charges up to £2,500 per day and incentives for utility firms and developers to coordinate their works.