Highways maintenance funding and spending figures
Capital funding allocation sources
| Financial year | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (projected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highways maintenance capital funding allocated through DfT | £7,890,000 | £9,622,000 | £10,125,000 |
| Other DfT capital funding utilised by local authority for highways maintenance | £2,284,000 | £131,000 | £0 |
| Other Government capital funding allocated by local authority to Highways Maintenance | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Other capital funding allocated to highways maintenance | £34,000 | £64,000 | £532,000 |
| Total Capital funding allocated to highways maintenance | £10,208,000 | £9,817,000 | £10,657,000 |
Additional information on funding figures
|
Table B1.1 excludes expenditure on public realm and highway improvement projects, such as junction improvements, road safety schemes and other enhancement works, in order to provide a clear and consistent picture of investment in highway maintenance activities. These improvement schemes are often high-value, one-off capital projects that are designed to enhance the network rather than maintain existing assets. Including them within maintenance expenditure would distort the reported figures and make year-on-year comparisons less meaningful. In addition, such schemes frequently incorporate bespoke designs, high-quality finishes and non-standard materials that can increase the future maintenance liability of the highway asset. Excluding this expenditure therefore ensures that the reported maintenance spend more accurately reflects funding directed towards the upkeep, preservation and renewal of the existing highway network. |
Spending
Total spending
The questions in this section (B1.2.1) relate to the spending condition set out in the 2026–27 local highways maintenance incentive funding requirements. Completion of this section forms part of the evidence required to meet this incentive funding condition.
| Please confirm that you understand the answers provided in this section (B1.2.1) relate to your compliance under the 2026-27 local highways maintenance incentive funding requirements, as set out to your authority via letter to your chief executive in April and as published online. | Yes |
| Financial year | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 (projected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total highways maintenance capital spend | £10,208,000 | £9,817,000 | £10,657,000 |
|
Total highways maintenance revenue spend |
£4,536,000 | £5,204,000 | £4,339,000 |
| Total spend | £14,744,000 | £15,021,000 | £14,996,000 |
Additional information on total spending figures
|
Capital spending in highways is investment in creating, replacing or significantly improving highway assets, such as road reconstruction, bridge renewals or new infrastructure. It is typically funded through government grants, borrowing, capital receipts, developer contributions or council capital resources. Revenue spending covers the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the highway network, including pothole repairs, inspections, grass cutting and winter maintenance. It is typically funded from the council's annual revenue budget, including Council Tax, Business Rates and service income. |
Spending on carriageways by type of spend in financial year 2025-26 and 2026-27 (projected)
| Carriageway spend related maintenance type |
Capital 2025-26 |
Revenue 2025-26 | Capital 2026-27 (projected) | Revenue 2026-27 (projected) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Planned maintenance | ||||
| Preventative carriageway maintenance | £3,577,000 | £0 | £3,232,000 | £0 |
| Structural carriageway maintenance | £2,758,000 | £0 | £3,395,000 | £0 |
| Planned carriageway repair / patching programmes | £109,000 | £109,000 | £400,000 | £54,000 |
| Reactive carriageway maintenance | ||||
| Reactive carriageway repairs / patching (temporary repairs) | £0 | £102,000 | £0 | £38,000 |
| Reactive carriageway repairs / patching (permanent repairs) | £34,000 | £91,000 | £0 | £61,000 |
| Reactive carriageway repairs / patching (total) | £34,000 | £193,000 | £0 | £99,000 |
| Other carriageway‑related spend | £44,000 | £3,148,000 | £120,000 | £2,645,000 |
| Total | £6,522,000 | £3,450,000 | £7,147,000 | £2,798,000 |
Additional information on spending on carriageways by type of spend
| The focus of carriageway spending is on preventative maintenance, using a range of products, to suit the intervention requirements. Our carriageway maintenance strategy is to implement a 40-year life-cycle approach, driving a medium-term objective of reducing potholes over the next 3 years. Other carriageway-related spending includes verge maintenance, tree management, road lining and winter maintenance. |
Highway Maintenance Activity (Surface Treatments and Repairs)
Road resurfacing and surface treatments
| Financial year | Road receiving preventative road surface treatments (length, km) |
Road receiving planned structural maintenance (length, km)
|
Area receiving planned repair / patching programmes | Area receiving reactive repair / patching (permanent methods) | Area receiving reactive repairs/ patching (temporary methods) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 77km | 12.1km | 4300m2 | 1015m2 | 750m2 |
| 2026-27 projected | 76.7km | 8.9km | 4500m2 | 1050m2 | 700m2 |
Additional information on surface treatments and repairs
| Does table B2.1 reflect all your carriageway-related road surface treatments & repair activities (for example, including pothole repairs)? If no, please add further information on any other types of treatments (planned to be) delivered and their extent in the table below. | No |
Further information and context
|
An asphalt preservation programme is being used on roads less than 10 years old to restore and protect the asphalt surface. First, any damaged areas and road fittings are repaired so the road becomes a continuous, even surface. A specialised treatment is then applied across the entire road to replace oils lost through ageing. This process helps keep the road flexible, reduces the risk of cracks and potholes, improves resistance to water damage, and strengthens the road surface below. It can extend the life of the road up to 7 years and can be reapplied every 5 years to provide ongoing protection. |