The Kingston upon Thames Place Committee met to discuss the implementation of a lane rental scheme and to receive an annual update on the Seething Wells Filter Beds. The committee agreed in principle to implement a Lane Rental Scheme in the borough and delegated authority to the Director of Highways, Transport and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to progress the application to join the London Borough Lane Rental Scheme. The committee also noted the updates regarding the Seething Wells Filter Beds.

London Lane Rental Scheme

The Place Committee agreed in principle to the implementation of a Lane Rental Scheme in the borough, as part of Tranche 2 of the London Borough Lane Rental Scheme. They delegated authority to the Director of Highways, Transport and Regulatory Services, in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, for any necessary future actions required to progress the application to join the London Borough Lane Rental Scheme.

A lane rental scheme allows the council to charge utility companies and other works promoters for occupying and using busy streets at busy times. The charge is based on how long the occupation lasts. This is intended to encourage utility companies and other works promoters to plan works for outside of these times, and to reduce delays for road users by minimising how long works last and using less disruptive work methods.

The report considered by the committee noted that:

The Council as Highway Authority has a statutory Network Management Duty to secure the expeditious movement of traffic on its road network. The Council is successfully operating a Permit Scheme for works across the Borough, however, although existing permit charges can be levied where works are not completed on time, they do not incentivise reduced duration of works or disruption to road users within the duration agreed as part of the permit application - in other words, a permit is required to work in the road, but a flat fee is charged for the permit. It is proposed that a Lane Rental Scheme will give better control of the durations of works and provide an incentive for work to be undertaken quicker, and outside of peak times, as the charge levied directly relates to the amount of time the road is occupied.

The London Lane Rental Scheme - Final document notes that the scheme is designed to operate alongside the London Permit Scheme for Road Works and Street Works¹, subject to certain exemptions on charges and fees. There are three charging bands:

• Low: £1,000 per day
• Medium: £1,500 per day
• High: £2,500 per day

These bands reflect the varying levels of disruption caused by works on different roads and at different times. Lane Rental would only apply to the busiest and most important roads in the borough, not all roads.

The charges apply to all works that require a permit under the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991, including the council's own highway works, works executed under Section 50 licenses² and those executed under Section 278 of the Highways Act³. Charges will not be payable in the following circumstances:

• If the activities take place outside of the Lane Rental specified times
• For the first 24 hours from the start of genuine emergency activities
• For activities which are confined to a verge with no impact on the carriageway
• For activities that are diversionary works
• For activities required for replacing poles, lamp columns or signs

The London Borough Lane Rental Scheme - Final document notes that the government has introduced regulations and guidelines for the use of surplus funds generated from Lane Rental schemes. At least 50% of any surplus funds must be spent on revenue-based highway maintenance, such as repairing potholes caused by general wear and tear. The remaining 50% of any surplus funds from charges generated from the scheme will be available as an 'innovation fund' for bids from the council but also other relevant organisations such as utility companies.

A schematic map and the list of current roads covered by the proposed Scheme are available in Annex 1 - Map of Roads under the Scheme - Final and Annex 2 - List of Roads under the Scheme - Final.

The Lane Rental Scheme Consultation Document - Final was open to all on the council's consultation platform 'Kingston Let's Talk' from 6 August to 8 September 2025, and consulted directly with utility companies etc.

It is currently anticipated that the Scheme can be approved by the Department for Transport (DfT) in early 2026 leading to implementation in the second half of 2026.

Seething Wells - Annual Update

The Place Committee noted the annual update on the Seething Wells Filter Beds.

The Seething Wells Filter Beds site has been in private ownership since it was decommissioned in the early 1990s. The site is located within the boundary of the Riverside South Conservation Area designated in 2003, and is on the local list of historic assets.

The update was provided in accordance with the formal recommendations of the Seething Wells All Party Working Group approved by the Place Committee on 21 September 2023.

The recommendations and updates are as follows:

• Recommendation (a): The council to explore and calculate the cost of the provision of a nature reserve for public access, heritage and nature conservation including the possibility of the designation of the site as a Local Nature Reserve[^1] (LNR) with the owners.

  • Update: No further updates following the previous report to the Place Committee. The council's dialogue with the landowners confirmed that they have no intention to market the site for disposal in the foreseeable future nor to fund the delivery of a Nature Reserve in the absence of the support of an enabling development to cover the overall cost. [^1]: A Local Nature Reserve (LNR) is a statutory designation made by local authorities. They are for both people and wildlife.

• Recommendation (b): The council, using independent advice to value the land to understand the options including buying or leasing the site and to negotiate with owners to secure council or a Trust (subject to the community setting up a trust) control of the management and maintenance of the site.

  • Update: No further updates following the previous report to the Place Committee. The council's current financial position is placing pressure on service budgets and it is not currently possible to progress this recommendation.

• Recommendation (c): The council to lead on exploring the options for heritage protection including potentially applying to Historic England for the entire site and, in particular, the Pump House and other Locally Listed historic assets on the site to be Statutorily Listed.

  • Update: A total of four Listing Applications were submitted by the council to Historic England (HE) on 3 and 4 March 2025. HE has determined the application for 85 Portsmouth Road providing the following response dated 14 August 2025:

    We have now carefully considered the contents of your application. Unfortunately, the current circumstances of 85 Portsmouth Road do not fall into any of the three categories used by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to prioritise designation resources on those sites that are most in need of protection. Those categories are:

    1. Threat: any building or site under serious threat of demolition or major alteration
    2. Strategic Priority: any building or site that is within the remit of one of our strategic listing priorities. You can find a list of current projects on our website
    3. Significance: any building or site that has very strong potential for inclusion on the National Heritage List for England

    Historic England is therefore currently unable to take your application further.

    No timeframe for the determination of the remaining three applications has been provided by HE.

• Recommendation (d): The council to pursue opportunities through a variety of environmental schemes and third party organisations for restoration and improvement of habitats as part of their biodiversity commitment requirement and encouraging preservation of the site.

  • Update: No further updates following the previous report to the Place Committee. The council's Biodiversity Officer has made contact with London Wildlife Trust regarding this recommendation. Whether opportunities for environmental schemes and the feasibility of pursuing this recommendation further with the involvement of LWT in the restoration and improvement of habitats is an option yet to be explored with the owners of the site.

• Recommendation (e): The council to ensure that Seething Wells is a key factor in the development of the Riverside South Conservation Area Enhancement Appraisal and Management Plan and the Thames Landscape Strategy.

  • Update: No further updates following the previous report to the Place Committee. The recommendation is part of the wider programme of Conservation Area Appraisals and Management Plans and included under the work of the council's Heritage and Conservation Officer.

• Recommendation (f): The Place Committee reports back to the Full Council with a review of the process that has taken place and develops the Working Group as a possible model for working with communities through creative and constructive dialogue with community groups.

  • Update: No relevant community projects have yet come forward or been presented that would benefit from the adoption of a Working Group model at this time, however the model remains open, should dialogue with relevant community groups seek to adopt the model.

• Recommendation (g): After the dissolution of the Councillor Working Group following these recommendations to the Place Committee, in accordance with the resolution of the Council Meeting of 27 January 2022, the council will seek proactive dialogue with the landowners to enhance the management and maintenance of the site, with the support of community groups and residents.

  • Update: The council's dialogue with the landowners is ongoing. A phone conversation with the Director of Planning and Regeneration and the owner and Director of the development company took place in July 2025.

    It is apparent that given the national imperative to deliver housing, development of the site remains very much on the owners' agenda and that at the current time there is little appetite to continue discussions with Councillors who are not supportive, but have expressed willingness to have discussions with Councillors that are supportive.

    The works directed under the s215 notice for repainting of railings is now complete.

• Recommendation (h): It is the intention that the Working Group will continue its work under the auspices of the community, with the council providing updates three times a year to Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee and annually to the Place Committee on the actions taken on the recommendation it has supported.

  • Update: Reports to the Surbiton Neighbourhood Committee have previously been provided on 12 December 2023, 25 April 2024, 10 September 2024, 25 February 2025, 10 June 2025 and 9 September 2025. An Annual update was provided to the Place Committee on 24 September 2024 and at this meeting.

• Recommendation (i): The community, with the support of the council, submits responses at appropriate stages in the process of the River Thames Scheme[^5] (RTS) development consent order (DCO). In the council's own response to the DCO it will take account of the community views of this opportunity.

  • Update: The Environment Agency (EA) is progressing with the River Thames Scheme in accordance with the Development Consent Order (DCO) process and its requirements. An update for Councillors on progress of the RTS is currently being arranged with the Environment Agency to take place in early autumn. [^5]: The River Thames Scheme is a major flood alleviation project.