Seven million extra potholes to be filled next year
Councils to receive £1.6 billion in funding to start to reverse a decade of decline on England’s roads
WITH the drive home for Christmas about to begin, millions of people will benefit from safer roads thanks to a record £1.6 billion investment to fill potholes and repair roads, announced by the Government today (20 December 2024).
In a Christmas boost for drivers, the landmark investment – an increase of nearly 50% on local road maintenance funding from last year – goes well beyond the Government’s manifesto pledge and is enough to fix the equivalent of more than 7 million extra potholes in 2025 to 2026.
Across England, local highways authorities will receive a £500 million uplift in funding as the Government looks to rebuild Britain, as part of its Plan for Change.
Each local authority can use its share of the £1.6 billion for 2025 to 2026 to identify which of their roads are in most need of repair and to deliver immediate fixes across every area of the country.
The allocations include:
More than £372 million for local authorities in the East Midlands and West Midlands
Over £327 million for local authorities in the North west, North East, and Yorkshire and Humber
More than £322 million for local authorities in the South East and London
Over £300 million for local authorities in the South West
More than £244 million for local authorities in the East of England.
Transport Secretary, Heidi Alexander, said: ‘Potholes have plagued motorists for far too long, but today’s record investment will start to reverse a decade of decline on our country’s roads.
‘Millions will drive home for Christmas today, but too many will have to endure an obstacle course to reach their loved ones. Potholes damage cars and make pedestrians and cyclists less safe. We are investing £1.6 billion to fix up to 7 million more potholes next year.
‘This Government is firmly on the side of drivers. Every area of England will get extra cash to tackle this problem once and for all. We have gone beyond our manifesto commitment to back motorists and help raise living standards in every part of the country.’
The Government is also making sure authorities spend the money wisely, collect the right data, and deliver proactive maintenance before potholes start to form. The funding has built-in incentives, with 25% of the uplift held back until authorities have shown that they are delivering.
The RAC’s head of policy, Simon Williams, said: ‘This is the biggest one-off road maintenance funding settlement councils in England have ever been given, so we have high hopes it’s the turning point that ends the degradation of our roads and finally delivers fit-for-purpose, smooth surfaces for drivers and all other road users.’
AA president Edmund King said: ‘Drivers and riders across England will be pleased to see this significant cash injection into smoothing out the local road network. With most journeys starting and ending on local roads, it is vital to restore the structural integrity of the streets we live on.’
