London Lorry Control Scheme: How to Plan Compliant HGV Routes at Night and on Weekends

Moving Heavy Goods Vehicles(HGV) through London requires more than finding the quickest or shortest route. For vehicles over 18 tonnes maximum gross weight, a route that appears efficient on a standard navigation platform may use roads controlled under the London Lorry Control Scheme(LLCS). During nights and weekends, operators may need permission to access these roads and must minimise the distance travelled away from the Excluded Route Network(ERN).

This creates a complex routing challenge. Planners must consider vehicle weight, time of travel, delivery locations, road classification and the distance travelled on restricted roads, all within the same route-planning process. Without the right logistics technology, planning and streamlining complex routes can be challenging.

What Is the London Lorry Control Scheme?

The London Lorry Control Scheme, or LLCS, controls the movement of heavy goods vehicles over 18 tonnes maximum gross weight on specified London roads during nights and weekends.

The scheme is sometimes described as a “lorry ban,” but it does not prohibit HGV deliveries in London. Instead, it controls which roads qualifying vehicles can use during specified hours, primarily to reduce noise in residential areas.

The scheme is managed by London Councils on behalf of 31 London boroughs, the City of London and parts of the Transport for London Road Network. London Councils explains how the LLCS operates.

 

When Does the LLCS Operate?

The controlled hours are:

Period	Controlled Hours
Monday to Friday	9:00 PM to 7:00 AM
Friday Night	9:00 PM Friday to 7:00 AM
Weekend	1:00 PM Saturday to 7:00 AM Monday
Public and Bank Holidays	Normal LLCS restrictions apply

 

Outside these hours, the LLCS does not restrict HGV movement on the same basis. However, other requirements, including local loading restrictions, Low Traffic Neighbourhoods, school streets, weight limits, Low Emission Zone requirements and the Direct Vision Standard may still apply.

 

Also Read: Smart Tachograph 2: What EU Fleet Operators Need to Know in 2026 and Beyond

Excluded Routes and Restricted Roads

The London road network covered by the scheme is divided into two broad categories.

Excluded Route Network

The Excluded Route Network, or ERN, consists mainly of trunk roads and other strategic routes. HGVs can use these roads at any time without requiring LLCS permission.

An HGV can therefore remain on the ERN during controlled hours without contravening the LLCS. However, many delivery and collection points are located beyond this core road network.

Restricted Roads

A vehicle over 18 tonnes that needs to use a Restricted Road during controlled hours normally requires a valid LLCS permission. Permissions are vehicle-specific, free to apply for and generally remain valid for five years.

Importantly, a permission does not give a vehicle unrestricted access to London’s residential roads. It allows the vehicle to use Restricted Roads only when necessary and in accordance with the scheme’s routing conditions.

Operators can consult the official LLCS scheme map to understand the current Excluded Route Network and restricted areas.

The Real Routing Challenge Begins After Leaving the ERN

The most difficult part of an LLCS journey is often the final approach to the delivery or collection point.

During controlled hours, a permitted vehicle should remain on the ERN until it is as near as practicable to the planned stopping place. It should then take the shortest practicable route over Restricted Roads.

This means route planning should follow three central principles:

1. Maximize the use of the Excluded Route Network.
2. Leave the ERN as near as practicable to the destination.
3. Minimise the total distance travelled on Restricted Roads.

The shortest overall journey is not necessarily the most appropriate LLCS route. A route planner might save a few minutes by leaving the ERN early and cutting across local roads, but this could increase restricted-road mileage and create a “failure to minimise” risk.

The same principles apply when the vehicle leaves a delivery point. It should generally take the shortest practicable route back to the ERN or proceed directly to the next planned stop when doing so results in less total travel on Restricted Roads.

Why Standard Route Planning Can Create Compliance Risks

Most consumer navigation systems are designed to minimise total travel time or distance. They may not distinguish between the ERN and LLCS Restricted Roads or consider whether a particular vehicle has permission to use them.

This can create several operational problems:

• Leaving the ERN earlier than necessary
• Using residential roads as shortcuts
• Selecting the wrong ERN junction for a destination
• Failing to apply restrictions when a journey enters controlled hours
• Routing an unpermitted vehicle onto a Restricted Road
• Recalculating a compliant route through an unsuitable local road
• Failing to retain sufficient route and delivery documentation

The challenge becomes more complicated for multi-stop operations. The most direct path between two deliveries may increase total restricted-road travel, while returning to the ERN between stops may produce a more suitable route.

How ERN-Aware Route Planning Should Work

A route-planning system designed to support LLCS operations should treat the ERN and Restricted Roads as different parts of the road network.

During controlled hours, the routing logic can be configured to:

• Prefer ERN road segments
• Prevent unpermitted vehicles from entering Restricted Roads
• Apply a high routing cost or penalty to Restricted Roads for permitted vehicles
• Minimize restricted-road distance before optimizing total journey time
• Identify a practical ERN exit point close to the delivery location
• Calculate the shortest practicable final approach
• Apply vehicle weight, height, width and length restrictions
• Consider delivery windows and driver shift times
• Record the planned stops and route used for each journey

The vehicle must be allowed to reach a legitimate destination while the routing engine minimizes unnecessary travel across the controlled local network.

Permissions, Documentation and PCN Risk

Operators must obtain LLCS permission for each qualifying vehicle that needs to use Restricted Roads during controlled hours. Temporary or replacement vehicles should also be added before being used for such journeys.

Operators and drivers may also need to provide evidence explaining why the vehicle was on a Restricted Road. This can include dated and timed delivery notes, collection schedules and details of planned stopping places.

As of August 2026, London Councils lists an Operator PCN of £550 and a Driver PCN of £130, with a 50% reduction for payment within 14 days. PCNs can be issued for reasons including:

• Operating without permission
• Failure to provide supporting documentation
• Providing insufficient evidence for the journey
• Failure to minimise the use of Restricted Roads

London Councils is also introducing ANPR camera enforcement following a 2024 trial. ANPR cameras are being deployed gradually alongside on-street enforcement officers, making consistent route planning and accurate vehicle records increasingly important. Read the official ANPR enforcement guidance.

How NextBillion.ai Can Support LLCS-Aware Route Planning

NextBillion.ai enables logistics businesses and transportation software providers to build customized routing workflows around vehicle specifications, operating times and organization-specific road policies.

Using NextBillion.ai’s routing and map customization capabilities, businesses can:

• Model customer-validated ERN and Restricted Road information
• Add custom restrictions to individual road segments or defined geographic areas
• Configure truck-specific and time-based road restrictions
• Prefer selected strategic roads during controlled hours
• Minimize travel across restricted local roads
• Calculate routes based on vehicle weight and dimensions
• Incorporate delivery time windows, vehicle capacities and driver shifts
• Generate truck-aware ETAs and distance matrices
• Provide drivers with turn-by-turn navigation based on the planned route
• Integrate customized routing into an existing TMS, dispatch platform or fleet-management system

The NextBillion.ai Road Editor App supports custom truck restrictions, closures, turn restrictions and time-based attributes across individual road segments or geofenced areas. Its truck-routing capabilities can also account for vehicle dimensions when calculating routes and transit estimates. 

Explore NextBillion.ai’s Road Editor capabilities.

These capabilities can help operators translate validated LLCS routing policies into repeatable planning workflows instead of relying entirely on manual map checks or driver familiarity.

However, routing technology does not replace the requirement to obtain permission from London Councils. Operators remain responsible for validating their routes, maintaining vehicle permissions and complying with the applicable Traffic Order and local restrictions.

NextBillion.ai helps transportation and logistics businesses build truck-aware routing workflows around their vehicles, delivery requirements and custom road restrictions.

Looking to incorporate London-specific HGV restrictions into your route-planning or dispatch platform? Talk to a NextBillion.ai routing expert to explore a routing workflow tailored to your operations.

 

An LLCS Route-Planning Checklist for Fleet Operators

Before dispatching an HGV into London, operators should confirm:

• Is the vehicle above 18 tonnes maximum gross weight?
• Will any part of the journey take place during LLCS controlled hours?
• Can the entire journey remain on the ERN?
• Does the vehicle have valid permission if Restricted Roads are required?
• Has the route maximised use of the ERN?
• Does the vehicle leave the ERN as near as practicable to the destination?
• Is the final approach the shortest practicable route?
• Have local loading, access and delivery-time restrictions been checked?
• Does the driver have the necessary delivery or collection documentation?
• Can the operator substantiate the vehicle’s movements if requested?
• Are temporary and replacement vehicles correctly registered?
  

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is the London Lorry Control Scheme a complete HGV ban?

No. The LLCS controls the roads used by HGVs over 18 tonnes during specified nights and weekend hours. It does not prohibit deliveries during those periods.

• Can HGVs use the Excluded Route Network without permission?

Yes. HGVs can use the ERN at any time without LLCS permission. Permission is required when a qualifying vehicle needs to use Restricted Roads during controlled hours.

• Does an LLCS permission allow unrestricted use of local roads?

No. A permitted vehicle must still maximise its use of the ERN and minimise the distance travelled on Restricted Roads.

• Is permission required for every vehicle?

Each qualifying vehicle that needs to use Restricted Roads during controlled hours must have its own permission. This includes temporary vehicles.

• Are zero-emission HGVs exempt?

The 2025 Amendment Order introduced an exemption for qualifying zero-emission, two-axle goods vehicles not exceeding 20 tonnes maximum gross weight. Operators should confirm that their vehicles meet the official eligibility conditions before relying on the exemption.

• Can a standard navigation application produce an LLCS-compliant route?

Not necessarily. A standard application may optimize for the shortest or fastest overall journey without prioritising the ERN or minimising travel on Restricted Roads. Operators should use routing logic configured around the applicable LLCS requirements.

• Where can operators get official routing advice?

London Councils advises operators seeking compliant-route guidance to contact the Lorry Control Unit at lorry.control@londoncouncils.gov.uk.