A new digital system funded by the Government is to launch next year, bringing more accurate data for drivers to plan journeys and avoid roadworks.

The new service will provide real-time alerts on roadworks to app developers

The Department for Transport is investing up to £10m in the Street Manager digital planning service, which will generate real-time data for use free of charge by tech firms and app developers. This in turn will mean that businesses such as Waze and Google maps can share the latest data with drivers and automatically suggest choose better routes, where possible.

The service, which replaces a previous system, will also help cut jams by ensuring local authorities and utility companies can record and share roadworks data better, enabling them to collaborate on joint works and better coordinate timing.

The announcement comes as the Government also publishes new bidding guidance on lane rental schemes, which enable councils across England to charge utility companies up to £2,500 a day for carrying out roadworks on the busiest roads at peak times.

Published after the Government announced at the start of the year that it was giving the green light to roadworks charging, the guidance informs local authorities as to how they can develop a lane rental scheme, and includes a new calculator for assessing the costs and benefits of schemes.