A government order has cleared the way for higher tolls on Dorset’s Sandbanks–Studland chain ferry, with the statutory instrument made on 9 December 2025 and due to come into force on 30 December 2025. Ministers accepted an inspector’s recommendation after a packed inquiry, concluding the revised charges should allow the operator “a reasonable return” while meeting day‑to‑day costs. The ferry company says it will not implement any increase before 1 April 2026.

The Department for Transport decision follows a January 2025 public inquiry that heard from hundreds of residents, councils and the privately owned Bournemouth‑Swanage Motor Road & Ferry Company. The Secretary of State’s letter records 556 objections, sets out the legal test under the Transport Charges Act 1954, and confirms the order is being made with modifications.

Key point for users: from April each year, any change will be tied to the previous January’s CPI inflation rate. That ends the old 3 percent cap and formalises an April uprating window only. The inspector’s report and the Secretary of State’s letter both confirm the approach, while the company states rises won’t be applied until 1 April 2026.

On prices, the decision allows maxima of £6.26 for cars and light vans and £12.52 for larger vehicles, with the pedestrian, cyclist and motorcycle fare capped at £1.18. For now, published day rates remain at £5.40 for cars and £10.80 for larger vehicles, with £1 for walkers and cyclists - levels introduced on 1 April 2025.

Proposals to levy a new road toll along Ferry Road have been rejected. Bulk ticket discounts are kept rather than cut back, with the decision letter confirming changes to the company’s original plan after strong pushback from councils and campaigners. The Department for Transport also signals interest in devolving future decisions to a local authority.

Beyond headline fares, the order tightens accountability. It requires the company to publish its annual accounts before any change, limits shareholder distributions in any 12‑month period to 6 percent of net asset value, and blocks payouts if the ferry replacement reserve is in deficit. Trailer charges will match the towing vehicle’s fare. These measures sit alongside the Act’s long‑standing duty that charges yield revenue that is adequate - not excessive - with a reasonable return.

Why this matters up north: the legal framework used here is the same one that governs other independent crossings. This year alone, the government updated toll orders for North Yorkshire’s Aldwark Bridge and, under separate powers, the Tyne Tunnel. The Sandbanks decision shows Whitehall’s current preference for CPI‑linking on privately run routes that carry everyday traffic, not just tourists.

For hauliers, coach operators and hospitality firms trading into Purbeck, the earliest any rise can bite is 1 April 2026 - after 28 days’ public notice and publication on the company’s website - and not more than once in a 12‑month period. For regulars, the retention of multi‑trip discounts will soften the blow, but motorists should still budget for CPI‑tracking from next spring.

The 2025 instrument also revokes the 2021 toll order, clearing away the previous regime. We’ll keep an eye on the promised publication of the new fare tables and the company’s accounts in the run‑up to April. If ministers do pursue devolution of decisions on this route, local oversight could follow - something campaigners across the country will watch closely.