Ivinghoe freight zone

We've implemented a weight restriction zone for freight vehicles in the Ivinghoe area.

We've implemented an environmental 7.5 tonne weight restriction, with exception for local access by Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) servicing sites within the zone.

This is the first area-wide environmental weight restriction we've introduced.

We're studying the results to understand:

• if it works
• how it works
• if we could replicate it in other areas

We designed the zone to:

• reduce the impact of HGVs on residents and communities
• address concerns about road safety and air quality
• minimise unnecessary traffic on local roads (by promoting through-traffic to use nearby A roads and B roads)
• allow the continued need to access local homes and businesses
• support our desire to help local businesses thrive and grow

These aims are aligned to the adopted Buckinghamshire Freight Strategy. This will help us move freight around the county without imposing costs on business, consumers, residents or our environment.

View the latest updates on the pilot zone below.

In 2019 we completed an Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) survey to establish a baseline of HGV usage in the area. Towards the end of 2024 (following the completion of the zone) we completed more surveys and compared them with surveys from 2019 to:

• understand how effective the pilot zone has been so far (without any enforcement)
• find out if we need to add further measures to reduce HGV through traffic

HGV traffic increased in the zone (for both local traffic and traffic travelling through the area). This was disappointing but reflects a national growth in HGV traffic, especially since the Covid pandemic.

Based on the survey results, we will now consider enforcing the restrictions in the zone.

We're considering changing the legal order to add exemptions for 'local access and permit holders'. This would help us to strengthen enforcement capabilities.

We've put the zone forward for consideration in the next tranche of the Moving Traffic Offences (MTO) proposals (which closes towards the end of 2025).

Proposed schemes under the MTO powers have to be approved by the Secretary of State and local authorities are able to make submissions twice a year. These schemes are not usually implemented quickly because each proposal requires a bespoke operation and technical plan.

As part of the MTO, it is likely that we'll install ANPR cameras at selected locations within the zone to identify vehicles without a permit, and consider issuing fines to them.

We'll need to understand the impact of any enforcement before we consider adding new zones in other areas of Buckinghamshire.

You can report suspected breaches to Thames Valley Police.

You can also report it to us which will help us monitor the zone and with future planning: Report an HGV using a road that has a weight restriction.

We encourage HGVs to use the:

• B488 and A41 south of the zone (connecting to Hemel Hempstead and the M25)
• B4146 and A505 north of the zone (connecting to the M1 and Milton Keynes)
• A418, using the new Eastern Link Road through Kingsbrook instead of going through Bierton

These ‘A’ and ‘B’ class roads are preferred to routes through other villages in the area that do not have roads suitable for HGV traffic.

View our key decision report for the Ivinghoe freight zone to see:

• details of the decision to authorise it
• a map of the zone
• the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and Traffic Movement Order
• comments from residents about the proposal

Email: [email protected]